According to the airline, on Monday an Air Canada plane made
a forced landing in Ireland
when its co-pilot became sick in the cockpit.
The plane took off from Toronto
and was heading to England.
According to passenger reports, the co-pilot needed psychiatric
care. In order to do this the plane was forced to land at the Shannon
airport, CBS News reports.
One Canadian passenger said that an hour before the flight the
co-pilot acted distraught.
Seŕn Finucane said: "He was yelling loudly at times. When
they tried to put his shoes on later, for example, he swore and threatened
people … He was swearing and asking for God, and was very, very
distressed."
Airline spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick didn’t say any details
about the personnel but confirmed pilot’s decision to land on Shannon
airport.
He said that the plane landed without any incident.
"At no time were the safety of the passengers or crew
in question," he added.
Apparently the co-pilot was taken off the plane by force by
his colleagues and one passenger.
According to officials at Shannon
International Airport,
the co-pilot was at the psychiatric unit of the Ennis General Hospital.
The situation was confirmed by Air Canada, but no details were given.
The 146 passengers were taken to hotels and five hours later
they were put on another flight that flew in from London's
Heathrow Airport,
according to Patrick Flynn, a freelance journalist in Shannon.
Spokeswoman Lucie Vignola said Tuesday that the crew and the
airline will be questioned by transport Canada.
She says that commercial pilots undergo every six months
medical checkups that are required by their license.
The Air Canada Pilots Association with 3,300 members issued
a statement saying: "ACPA has sent a fellow pilot to assist in whatever
way is required,"
Capt. Andy Wilson, president of the association, said in an
interview: "As we train for many emergencies never seen in a pilot's
entire career, this is just one more that we train for. Although it's a
two-pilot aircraft, either one could certainly perform the operation and land
the aircraft," nationalpost.com informs.
