Sickness can occur at the most inopportune time. For one Southwest Airlines pilot, incapacitating sickness occurred thousands of feet above the ground in the middle of a flight. But it was there that another pilot, from another airline, was willing to lend a helping hand.
Pilot From Another Airline Helps Fly Flight After Southwest Airlines Pilot Gets Sick
Southwest Flight 6013 took off from Las Vegas (LAS) bound for Columbus, Ohio (CMH) on time on Wednesday March 22, 2023. But after takeoff, one of the pilots became incapacitated. He was pulled out of the cockpit.
When something like this occurs, normally a flight attendant will step in and remain in the cockpit. It’s not that one pilot cannot fly the plane (after all, that is the main reason why there are two pilots onboard), but because it is safer to fly with two, even if the second body in the cockpit merely provides cursory assistance.
But in this case, a pilot from another airline was commuting to Ohio and quickly stepped up to assist. While he did not fly the plane, he did join the other Southwest Airlines pilot in the flight deck and provided assistance with radio communications.
I’m being notified by passengers on a Southwest flight departing Las Vegas that the captain became incapacitated soon after takeoff this morning. He was removed from the flight deck and replaced by a non Southwest pilot who was commuting on that flight. This is now the fifth…
— Josh Yoder (@JoshYoder) March 22, 2023
The plane turned around and returned to Las Vegas, arriving back roughly two hours after departing.
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson confirmed the event:
“Southwest Flight 6013 from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio returned to LAS after departure on Wednesday when one of our Pilots needed medical attention. The flight landed safely, and an alternate Flight Crew is operating the flight to CMH. We commend the Crew for their professionalism and appreciate our Customers’ patience and understanding regarding the situation.”
It is not clear what the condition of the pilot is.
CONCLUSION
There is a certain brotherhood (or sisterhood) in the airline industry that makes competitors friends and instills a certain base level of trust, no matter the carrier. While we don’t know the condition of the Southwest pilot, it is a nice story that one pilot was so willing to jump up an assist and that we do not live in such a fear-filled system that such help had to be turned down.
(H/T: View From The Wing)
A very good Samaritan. We do what needs done if just to support others. Praying for the incapacitated pilot
When will these vaccine fatalities stop? I hope the pilot survives.
Oh, did you know the pilot Wendy?
Two things, Matthew:
First of all, you can stop appropriating drag queen culture with your “honey,” and sarcastic replies taken right out of our culture. I mean that seriously, by the way. It’s extremely unbecoming and it makes you look like a try-hard.
Secondly, why politicize what’s plain for all to see? The pandemic has had knock-on effects and there’s a sense that more people are becoming suddenly incapacitated.
Did this use to happen? Sure, we can find examples of pilots experiencing strokes mid-air from before 2021. Sure, we can find stories of athletes collapsing with heart attacks from before 2021. I don’t know the data.
I just know the human mind is easily swayed … in either direction.
Now, resist the temptation to fire another b1tchy reply. It’s not a good look on you, honey.
I must have missed where I used the word “honey.” Can you help me direct me to where I did in the comment above, Loretta?
I regret to inform you that you appear quite delusional. You make a false charge, state an outlandish claim, and fail to back up either point. There’s a “sense” that more people are becoming “suddenly” incapacitated? Says who? And my earlier question stands: did you know the pilot? Do you know what made him or her ill in the cockpit? Could it have been a bad burrito from Chipotle just as easily as it could have been the vaccine? Who said the pilot had a stroke?
Please be more critical. Please be more discerning.
Sounds like your eating disorder is getting the best of you, Matthew. Go have a snack, then try putting in your eyes, and read what I wrote again.
Your’re done, sweetheart.
What a beta loser you are.
Oh hooooooneeeyyy. Because we all know the noted and legion anti-vax drag queen caucus is what? SICKENING. Gurl, if you are a drag queen, I am the Queen of Sheba the house down boots. Okurrrrrrrrr! Too bad Matthew ate. And THAT’s on periodt.
When will these milk fatalities stop!!!! The pilot drank milk in his lifetime. Therefore, milk is to blame.
Derek, hey I now live in a cow town. I cannot allow these vicious rumors to persist! lol
It’s insane to me that I’ve seen this in multiple places. First of all, southwest is probably the least vaccinated airline, so if the vaccine was causing this I’d expect united planes to be falling out of the sky left and right. Second, covid itself is what causes the issues we’d expect to see in someone passing out randomly. Third, since the introduction of vaccines, Republicans have been dieing of covid at a much higher rate than democrats. So by all means Republicans, continue to Darwin award yourselves, remember if you get bit by a dog, rabies shots are evil too . You may have done better in the last 2 elections if you took the vaccines.
Oh yes billy bob. In fact Florida has the 5 th highest death rate from Covid. So between the hurricanes, alligators and Covid, RIP Florida we are all praying for you
That there Billy Bob is an imposter!
“When will these vaccine fatalities stop?”
I love the irony in your question. The idea is that you’ve analyzed the mountain of data and are insightful enough to be able to conclude that vaccinations (presumably covid vaccinations) are causing sudden death events, but are unable to recognize that if you are right about this that the deaths won’t be stopping anytime soon. Why? Because in the fall of 2022, millions of people per day globally people were still choosing vaccination. Millions per day.
Looks like a vaccident to me!
This sounds almost like the plot for AIRPORT 1975 lol
If I had to take a flight from Vegas to Columbus, I’d probably incapacitate myself as well.
Jerry – Why is that?
Another blog is suggesting it was a NetJets pilot deadheading to CMH – which is NetJets HQ.
I hope there is some sort of good samaritan law in place in case an off duty pilot needs to assist or take control of a different company’s plane in an emergency situation. This person is a hero and should be immune to any liability in case something happens like a passenger gets hurt on a rough landing.
Perhaps. Dorothy and the Wizard of OZ had something to do with it.
He must have had the fish.
A pilot got sick and another pilot stepped up to assist. Let’s not make mountains out of mole hills