What happened
On November 1, 2015, an Airbus A340-313, registered HB-JMC, was operating a commercial flight from Boston to Zurich. During the cruise phase at flight level 380, the copilot began feeling unwell after eating breakfast. He reported experiencing dizziness and coordination difficulties to the captain and a flight attendant.
To manage the medical emergency, the captain moved the copilot to the crew bunk and requested medical assistance via the passenger address system. A doctor on board took over the copilot's care. The captain evaluated two landing options: Paris, which was closer, and Zurich, which offered better established medical support. Following consultation with the onboard doctor, the captain decided to divert to Zurich, increasing the aircraft's speed to the maximum allowable cruise speed to reach the destination as quickly as possible.
During the descent, the captain notified the airline's Network Operations Control via ACARS, requesting an ambulance for the arrival. The captain also declared a "Pan Pan" urgency message to air traffic services, informing controllers that he was operating the aircraft in a single-pilot capacity. To manage the workload, the captain assigned a flight attendant to sit in the co-pilot's seat to assist with cockpit organization and to monitor radio communications.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the medical event and the subsequent flight management. Authorities examined cockpit voice and flight data recordings, as well as radar tracks, to evaluate the crew's response. The investigation also reviewed the medical findings regarding the copilot's condition.
Findings
- The incident was caused by the sudden medical incapacitation of the copilot.
- The medical cause of the incapacitation was determined to be an indeterminate event that was extremely difficult to detect or treat preemptively.
- The captain's actions were found to be purposeful and safety-oriented, effectively managing the single-pilot operation and coordinating with both medical staff and air traffic control.
- There were no operational anomalies or technical difficulties recorded during the flight management phase.