An emergency was declared on a Dutch plane carrying 41 people just three minutes after taking off from Dublin Airport, when the 35-year-old pilot flying the aircraft collapsed in his seat. The Air Accident Investigation Unit has released a new report revealing that the KLM flight, en route from Dublin to Amsterdam, also experienced a bird strike as it made an emergency landing back at the airport shortly afterwards.
The incident, classified as “a serious incident” by the AAIU, occurred on October 19, 2022, involving an Embraer E175-200 STD aircraft with 37 passengers and four crew members on board. The first officer informed the commander of feeling unwell shortly after take-off at 8.22 am and then collapsed in his seat, becoming incapacitated. The commander attempted to revive his colleague but was unsuccessful. The pilot in command took over all flying duties and issued a Mayday alert to air traffic controllers, requesting clearance to return to Dublin Airport and medical assistance.
Despite facing deteriorating weather conditions, the aircraft landed safely at 8.40 am. The unwell pilot was found to have low blood pressure, likely due to a combination of factors. KLM informed Irish investigators that its training included procedures for dealing with an incapacitated pilot. The AAIU noted the incident occurred shortly after take-off, a phase of flight with high crew workload. Passengers were informed of the situation and the safe return to Dublin Airport.
The AAIU report highlighted a bird strike during the emergency landing, causing no significant issues but increasing the workload of the remaining pilot. The co-pilot, although stabilized, was deemed unfit to assist in flying duties by the commander. The incident underscored the critical nature of crew preparedness during unexpected emergencies. The safe landing of the aircraft demonstrated the professionalism and efficiency of the flight crew in handling a challenging situation.