DUBLIN- A United Airlines (UA) flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), Netherlands to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) made an emergency landing at Dublin Airport (DUB), Ireland Today, on April 15, 2025, after the pilot incapacitated mid-air.
The Chicago-based carrier operates a sole daily flight between Gateway City, Newark, and Venice of the North, Amsterdam using a Boeing 777 fleet.
United Pilot Incapacitated
According to FlightRadar24 data, United flight UA71 took off from Amsterdam on time at 7:23 UTC. After being airborne for over an hour, the crew reported that the third pilot had some chest pain.
At, 36,000 feet, the aircraft made a holding pattern at 8:29 UTC over North Scotland before continuing westward (towards the Atlantic Ocean).
However, again after one hour, the crew declared an emergency and decided to make a diversion to the nearest airport with better medical facilities.
At 9:49 UTC, the flight made a U-turn and made an emergency landing at Dublin Airport at 11:25 UTC, almost 3 hours later of making an unusual holding pattern over Scotland.
Due to more fuel onboard needed to reach its destination, the pilots decided to make a heavy landing at Dublin.
The flight UA71 was operated by a 26.4-year-old Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, registered as N78005.
More details are awaited and we wish that the pilot suffering from pain gets better and praying for a speedy recovery.
Similar Incidents
Recently, the incidents related to pilots being incapacitated or dying mid-air are rising and it should be a point of discussion as pilot health is crucial in having safer skies.
Air India Express Pilot Cardiac Arrest
A few days ago, An Air India Express (IX) pilot died after suffering a cardiac arrest at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on April 9, 2025, shortly after completing a flight from Srinagar.
Captain Armaan collapsed at the airline’s dispatch office following the successful landing of his flight. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, medical staff pronounced him dead upon arrival, airline officials confirmed.
The pilot initially showed signs of distress while still aboard the aircraft, vomiting after landing in Delhi. He then proceeded to the dispatch office where he subsequently suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
United Pilot falls ill
In December 2024, United Airlines flight UA12 from Zurich to Chicago diverted to Halifax, Canada after a pilot became ill mid-flight. Aviation analyst JonNYC first reported the incident.
The flight departed Zurich at 1:26 AM UTC (2:26 AM local time). After approximately seven hours in the air, the flight crew declared a medical emergency when the pilot fell ill. Another pilot contacted air traffic control and decided to divert to Halifax.
easyJet Pilot Collapse Mid-Air
An easyJet flight traveling from Hurghada, Egypt to Manchester executed an emergency landing in Athens in February 2025 when one of its pilots suffered a medical emergency approximately two hours into the journey.
A passenger speaking anonymously to the Manchester Evening News described seeing cabin crew members rush to the front of the aircraft where a man had collapsed. Several passengers with medical training responded to urgent calls for assistance from the crew.
The situation intensified when crew members erected a privacy screen at the front of the aircraft before informing passengers that the collapsed individual was one of the pilots. This revelation heightened anxiety among passengers who suddenly grasped the severity of the situation.
The flight diverted to Athens International Airport, where it circled before the remaining pilot executed a successful emergency landing.
Featured Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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