An incident on board a KLM flight from Dublin to Amsterdam could have turned tragic when one of the pilots lost consciousness just three minutes after takeoff. There were 37 passengers and four crew members on board.
According to the investigation, at 8:22 a.m. the first pilot, a 35-year-old man, told his colleague that he felt unwell. A few seconds later he lost consciousness right in his chair. The crew chief tried unsuccessfully to revive his colleague, after which he immediately called for help from the flight attendants and pressed the emergency call button.
Although the pilot soon regained consciousness, he was deemed unfit to continue working and the crew commander decided to turn the aircraft around and return to Dublin Airport. Air traffic control received an alarm and a request for an emergency landing, and airport medical services were called to assist the pilot.
Passengers were informed of the incident and the crew said further instructions would be given after a safe landing.
An investigation by the Irish Aircraft Accident Unit (AAIU) found that the aircraft collided with a flock of birds, causing an impact on the nose of the aircraft. Although the collision did not cause any technical problems, it may have affected the pilot’s condition. A medical examination revealed that he had low blood pressure, probably caused by changes in altitude and insufficient food and water intake.
