Incident Overview
On Wednesday, 6 July 2011, at approximately 13:40 UTC, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 (registration EI-DLW) was in cruise phase during a commercial passenger flight from Pisa, Italy, to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. About half an hour after takeoff, the copilot informed the captain that he was feeling ill and had a headache. The captain assumed control of the aircraft. Shortly thereafter, the copilot experienced nausea, shaking, and loss of responsiveness, eventually fainting.
Crew Response
The captain requested the purser's presence in the cockpit to assist the copilot. The purser secured the copilot and administered oxygen. The captain declared a medical emergency on the ATC frequency of the Marseille Flight Information Region (FIR), which was handling the flight, and requested a diversion to Girona Airport (LEGE). The aircraft was cleared to proceed directly to Girona.
Approximately four to five minutes after fainting, the copilot regained consciousness but remained incapacitated in his seat. Once his condition stabilized, the purser returned to the cabin. The captain prepared for a single-pilot approach and landing, which occurred without incident at 14:06 UTC.
Medical Response and Diagnosis
Airport medical services and two ambulances from local emergency services were waiting upon landing. The copilot was taken to a nearby hospital, where tests revealed no serious health problems. The emergency room diagnosis was "Syncope and collapse. Fainting fit, (near) (pre) syncope, faint, vasovagal attack." Subsequent thorough tests confirmed the absence of any latent medical conditions. The copilot was released shortly after his arrival at the hospital.
Personnel Background
The copilot, aged 33, held a Commercial Pilot License with a valid Class 1 medical certificate issued on 11 November 2010, with no restrictions. He had approximately 4,000 total flight hours, including 2,050 hours on the Boeing 737 type. The captain, aged 39, held an Airline Transport Pilot License with 9,000 total flight hours, of which 7,000 were on type. The captain was familiar with Girona Airport, having flown into it over 100 times.
The copilot reported that he had slept at his home in Pisa the night before, ate about two hours prior to the flight, and walked to the airport (a ten-minute walk) on a hot day with a temperature of 29 °C. He stated he sweat considerably during the walk and that the cockpit air conditioning was turned on upon boarding. In the two preceding days, he had flown round trips from Pisa to Dublin and Pisa to Marrakech, each about three hours long, with duty periods starting around noon and ending early in the night. His total flight time in the fifteen days prior was 37 hours, and duty time was 55 hours. The four days before those flights he had been on leave in Pisa.
Communications and Coordination
The aircraft was in contact with ATC Marseille, ATC Barcelona, and finally Girona Tower. At 13:34 UTC, the pilot reported a "medical emergency due to pilot incapacitation" to ATC Marseille and requested diversion. The controller asked for confirmation and instructed the pilot to set transponder code 7700. The pilot initially demurred but later complied. The aircraft was cleared to descend to FL150 and proceed directly to the BISBA waypoint. Coordination between Marseille and Barcelona area control centers ensued.
At 13:51 UTC, the pilot contacted Barcelona FIR ATC, again reporting a medical emergency. He was cleared to BANOL, the initial approach fix for an ILS approach to runway 20 at Girona. The pilot stated that the copilot was incapacitated, that the aircraft was under single-pilot operation, and requested an ambulance. The Girona tower relayed the information to the Airport Coordination Center (CECOA). The CECOA asked if an emergency was declared; the controller clarified it was a medical emergency. The firefighting service was not initially activated but was later informed as an additional safety measure. The pilot was cleared to land at 14:00:10.
Airport Emergency Response
Girona Airport's Aviation Emergency Plan (PEA) classifies medical emergencies. Since the pilot declared an emergency (as a medical emergency), the response was initiated under the "General Alarm" level, which requires immediate action by firefighting, medical services, and CECOA. However, the CECOA reported that the tower contacted them to report a medical emergency with the copilot unconscious, and that an ambulance was needed. The CECOA activated a Local Alert, notifying the airport medical service (which requested an emergency ambulance and PRM assistance), the Chief of Operations, the Ryanair handling agent, airport security, and movement area marshallers. The firefighting service was also informed as a safety measure. The medical technician was transported to the aircraft stand.
Flight Recorder Information
Data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered. The CVR recorded normal pre-flight preparations and a fluid conversation between the crew during takeoff and climb. The copilot was the pilot flying initially. After reaching altitude, the conversation turned personal. The copilot's speech was normal until he mentioned his headache. The CVR captured the captain's call to the purser and her subsequent efforts to assist the copilot, including administering oxygen. After a few minutes, the purser left the cockpit to inform passengers.
Aircraft and Damage
The aircraft sustained no damage, and there were no injuries to crew, passengers, or third parties.