What happened
On December 2, 2002, an Embraer EMB 145LR, registration SE-RAC, was operating a scheduled flight from Gothenburg/Landvetter to Helsinki/Vantaa. Before departure, the commander informed the co-pilot that he was experiencing chills and feeling unwell, though he believed his condition would not affect the flight. The co-pilot acted as the flying pilot while the commander managed radio communications.
Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, once the aircraft reached its cruising altitude, the commander's health declined significantly. The co-pilot observed that the commander was struggling to follow radio communications, appearing tired and ashen, and eventually began vomiting. Recognizing the situation, the co-pilot took command of the aircraft and notified the cabin crew.
As the aircraft approached Helsinki, air traffic control placed the flight in a holding pattern. During this period, the commander's condition worsened. The co-pilot subsequently issued a "PAN PAN" priority message to alert authorities of the medical situation. This resulted in the aircraft being granted priority for a direct approach and landing. While the commander felt slightly better during the landing phase and assisted with taxiing, his condition regressed once the passengers had disembarked.