A Delta Air Lines flight en route from Los Angeles to Boston was diverted to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport Tuesday after the captain experienced a medical emergency.
The Boeing 757, identified as Delta Flight 437 with 147 passengers aboard, was in the air when the pilot informed air traffic controllers of his deteriorating health.
"This is the captain. I am the one who is ill. I am going to taxi the jet to the gate, and then I need to go to the hospital," the pilot communicated to controllers, who guided him to the quickest taxi route to the gate.
Delta Air Lines confirmed the diversion and issued an apology to passengers for the travel disruption. The airline stated that a replacement pilot took over the flight, which ultimately landed in Boston approximately 90 minutes behind its scheduled arrival time. The specific nature of the captain's medical condition was not disclosed.
Former pilot Matthew Buckley explained to CBS News that in such situations, the non-flying pilot would typically handle communications, allowing the first officer to focus solely on flying the aircraft. Buckley added that diverting to the nearest suitable airport and seeking immediate medical attention is the standard and safest protocol when a pilot becomes incapacitated.