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An easyJet flight from Liverpool to Fuerteventura was forced to turn back shortly after take-off on Wednesday, after the co-pilot became unwell while the aircraft was still climbing.

 

The Airbus A320 had only been airborne for around twenty minutes when the crew alerted air traffic control to a medical emergency on board. The first officer was no longer fit to continue his duties in the cockpit, prompting the captain to make the call to return to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and request priority for the approach.

 

It’s the latest in a string of disruptions affecting the airline’s routes to and from Spain and the Canary Islands this year. Back in July, an easyJet flight from Tenerife to Liverpool had to turn around after a brawl involving around ten passengers broke out on board, forcing the captain to request police assistance on landing.

 

Ground staff at Liverpool were notified in advance of the co-pilot’s condition so medical teams could be ready and waiting when the aircraft touched back down. The A320 landed safely at its airport of origin, where the medical team took over the co-pilot’s care.

 

September brought a different kind of scare for easyJet passengers, when a Bristol to Málaga flight declared an emergency on its approach after smoke was detected in the cabin, forcing both pilots to put on oxygen masks before landing safely.

 

While Wednesday’s incident will likely have meant a frustrating delay for passengers hoping to reach Fuerteventura, it’s a reminder that airline crews, like anyone else, can fall ill without warning, and that pilots are trained to prioritise safety above all else when that happens mid-flight.

 

Image: Wolfgang Weiser/Unsplash