An Air Canada flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport on Wednesday afternoon after the pilot experienced an "incapacitating" medical emergency in the cockpit. The flight, carrying 61 passengers from Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, to Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Nova Scotia, began to unexpectedly jolt and swerve.
The co-pilot assumed control of the aircraft and safely landed it in Massachusetts. Passengers reported that the plane's movements felt more severe than typical turbulence.
Flight 7664, operated by regional partner PAL Airlines, had departed Newark shortly before 12:40 p.m. Wednesday. Approximately one hour into the flight, around 1:37 p.m., authorities were alerted to the pilot's medical episode. Logan Airport received an alert indicating the plane would divert to Boston, with the first officer in command.
Emergency services, including ambulances and fire rescue, were positioned on the runway in anticipation of the landing. Passengers described seeing a flight attendant go into the cockpit, followed shortly by the pilot being removed. One passenger, Rodney McDonald, told WCVB News that the pilot appeared to be suffering a seizure and that he and other passengers assisted in restraining him for about 40 minutes until landing. A registered nurse on board also provided assistance.
The aircraft landed safely in Boston around 2 p.m. The pilot was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment. Details regarding his condition and the specific medical event remain unclear. Passengers reported that the pilot began to regain coherence after the landing. The flight was later towed to a gate, and passengers disembarked.
Later that evening, around 7:30 p.m., the flight departed from Logan Airport and arrived safely in Halifax. Air Canada confirmed in a statement that the captain experienced a medical issue and was removed from the flight deck according to safety protocols, with the first officer diverting the flight. Aviation experts noted that the presence of a second fully qualified pilot is a critical safety measure for such emergencies, ensuring one pilot can manage the aircraft if the other is incapacitated.