A scary event unfolded after a plane was forced into an emergency landing because the pilot fell unconscious.
Those with a fear of flying, look away now.
Flight LH463, a Boeing 747-8, had just departed Miami, Florida, on January 19 when the pilot lost consciousness, as first reported by aviation trade magazine Aviation Herald.
The aircraft’s co-pilot immediately assumed control and continued the flight along the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and Canada. Meanwhile, the unconscious captain was moved to a crew lounge, where two flight attendants provided first aid.
With the aircraft at 30,000 feet over Nova Scotia, deteriorating weather conditions and the medical emergency prompted the crew to make a U-turn and divert to Montreal, Canada.
The flight landed safely, approximately 2,414 kilometers away from its intended destination in Germany.
The cause of the pilot’s fainting remains unclear, and no updates on his condition have been provided.
A Lufthansa spokesperson confirmed to The Sun that passengers were rebooked on alternative flights.
“The flight landed there normally and safely, and the colleague received medical care," the spokesperson said. "Lufthansa regrets the inconvenience caused to the passengers. The safety of our passengers and crew members is our top priority at all times.”
This is another event in what feels like a year plagued with aviation disasters.
As you're probably aware, American Airlines flight 5342, traveling from Wichita, Kansas, crashed while it was coming in to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29.
The aircraft tragically struck a military-operated Black Hawk helicopter and the wreckage of both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River.
It's been confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew members were on the American Airlines flight while the helicopter held three military personnel.
Sadly, there were no survivors.
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According to newly analyzed air traffic control radar data, the Black Hawk helicopter was flying 100 feet higher than permitted in the airspace, per the Independent.
The aircraft, piloted by Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, 28, alongside Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, were on a routine training exercise at the time of the accident.
Regulations set the maximum altitude for helicopters in the designated training area at 200 feet. However, authorities confirmed that air traffic control data indicated the Black Hawk was flying at approximately 300 feet.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted that radar readings are rounded to the nearest 100 feet, meaning the actual altitude was between 251 and 349 feet.
Meanwhile, the American Airlines jet had been cleared to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and was descending at approximately 325 feet when the collision occurred.
The investigation continues, with officials hoping that recovering the Black Hawk wreckage from the Potomac River will provide further insight into the crash.