A co-pilot aboard an Air Canada flight was removed from the cockpit, restrained, and sedated after suffering a mental breakdown mid-flight. There were no injuries to the 146 passengers or nine crew members on the plane. Fortunately, an airplane accident was avoided despite the co-pilot’s actions.
The co-pilot had over 6,500 hours of flight time, and had recently been examined and deemed fit to fly a plane. None of the crew members suspected that he was on the verge of a breakdown.
After landing, the pilot told investigators that his co-pilot seemed out of sorts from the moment he arrived at work that morning. He had shown up late, missing the preflight inspection. During the flight, the co-pilot’s behavior continuously deteriorated. He began rambling on nonsensically, and took an extended nap during the flight. When he returned from his nap, he refused to follow airline safety protocol.
The co-pilot eventually became so belligerent that the pilot ordered several of the flight attendants to come and remove him from the cockpit. The co-pilot put up a violent struggle and had to be restrained and sedated.
One of the flight attendants on board had previous flying experience and sat in as co-pilot for the remainder of the flight. The pilot praised her for her excellent job in a difficult situation.
Airplane accidents are responsible for large-scale damage and catastrophic injuries. If you have been injured in an airplane accident, you should consult an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your damages.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an airplane accident in the West Palm Beach, Florida area, please contact the law office of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A. today to schedule a free consultation.
