AC Flight 848 Follow-up

Air Canada remains tight-lipped about the illness of the co-pilot of Flight 848 that caused a diversion to Shannon, Ireland on Jan. 28, but others are talking. AC848 had departed Toronto for London, but an hour from its destination, the pilot of the Boeing 677 elected to land at Shannon Airport so his co-pilot could get immediately medical attention. It is reported that the unidentified co-pilot had suffered a mental breakdown. Quoting passengers on the flight, news reports said that the flight officer “was yelling loudly, swearing and asking for God.” In front of passengers, he was taken to the passenger cabin, forced into a seat where his wrists and ankles were tied and eventually handcuffed to the seat. The jetliner landed safely and the co-pilot remains hospitalized. The Air Canada Pilots Association commends the crew of Flight 848 for its handling of the situation. "Although the illness of flight crew is rare, pilots are fully trained for such an event," said Capt. Andy Wilson, president of the Air Canada Pilots Association. "The safe diversion was the result of the pilot following standard operating procedures in the professional manner that is expected of Air Canada pilots. Our member was taken to hospital, where he is being treated," says Wilson. "ACPA has sent a fellow pilot to assist in whatever way is required." The incident is being investigated by Air Canada and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.