WAS THIS YOU, DOUGLAS?

Pilot restrained after yelling to God on flight
By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter
Last Updated: 1:35pm GMT 30/01/2008

The co-pilot of a Heathrow-bound passenger flight had to be forcibly
removed from the cockpit after suffering a mental breakdown 30,000ft
over the Atlantic.

Heathrow crash inquiry focuses on fuel supply
Co-pilot saved stricken Heathrow airliner
Experts probe Heathrow plane's crash landing
He began shouting, crying and "invoking God" whilst at the controls of
the Air Canada Boeing 767, and was restrained by other crew members
and a passenger who was an off-duty member of the Canadian armed
forces.

The co-pilot had to be handcuffed in front of passengers
The co-pilot then had his wrists and ankles bound in front of stunned
travellers and was handcuffed to a seat whilst flight AC848 from
Toronto diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland for him to be taken off
the plane and into a waiting ambulance.

He was admitted to a psychiatric unit while the 149 passengers were
taken to nearby hotels as the airline arranged for a replacement crew
to take the aircraft on to Heathrow, where it landed at 4.15pm on
Monday, eight hours behind schedule.

The aircraft was less than an hour from London when the first officer
began "acting in a peculiar manner and talking loudly to himself",
according to one source.

Sean Finucane, a passenger on the flight, said the co-pilot "just
wanted to talk to God", adding: "He was yelling loudly but didn't
sound intoxicated.

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"When they tried to put his shoes on later, he swore and threatened
people. He was very, very distressed."

Air traffic controllers at Shannon, in County Clare on the West Coast
of Ireland, had been notified by the captain that his colleague was
"unwell" and required medical attention.

The co-pilot was assessed at the scene before being taken to the Acute
Psychiatric Unit at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Ennis, where
he remains.

An airport spokesman said the pilot requested a "medical diversion"
but did not declare an official emergency.

Air Canada said in a written statement: "The captain and crew of
flight AC848 followed standard operating procedures in light of the co-
pilot falling ill. The captain elected to divert to Shannon and landed
without incident. At no time was safety compromised."

The incident will be investigated by Air Canada and the Air
Transportation Safety Board in Canada, with the inquiry likely to
focus on whether the crew member had shown previous signs of illness.

Werewolfy....Look Douglas, yell too much and you too might be
certified. It would be 'just'.

WAS THIS YOU, DOUGLAS?

Pilot restrained after yelling to God on flight

WAS THIS YOU, DOUGLAS?


Pilot restrained after yelling to God on flight
By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter
Last Updated: 1:35pm GMT 30/01/2008



The co-pilot of a Heathrow-bound passenger flight had to be forcibly
removed from the cockpit after suffering a mental breakdown 30,000ft
over the Atlantic.

Heathrow crash inquiry focuses on fuel supply
Co-pilot saved stricken Heathrow airliner
Experts probe Heathrow plane's crash landing
He began shouting, crying and "invoking God" whilst at the controls of
the Air Canada Boeing 767, and was restrained by other crew members
and a passenger who was an off-duty member of the Canadian armed
forces.


The co-pilot had to be handcuffed in front of passengers
The co-pilot then had his wrists and ankles bound in front of stunned
travellers and was handcuffed to a seat whilst flight AC848 from
Toronto diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland for him to be taken off
the plane and into a waiting ambulance.

He was admitted to a psychiatric unit while the 149 passengers were
taken to nearby hotels as the airline arranged for a replacement crew
to take the aircraft on to Heathrow, where it landed at 4.15pm on
Monday, eight hours behind schedule.

The aircraft was less than an hour from London when the first officer
began "acting in a peculiar manner and talking loudly to himself",
according to one source.

Sean Finucane, a passenger on the flight, said the co-pilot "just
wanted to talk to God", adding: "He was yelling loudly but didn't
sound intoxicated.

advertisement
"When they tried to put his shoes on later, he swore and threatened
people. He was very, very distressed."

Air traffic controllers at Shannon, in County Clare on the West Coast of
Ireland, had been notified by the captain that his colleague was
"unwell" and required medical attention.

The co-pilot was assessed at the scene before being taken to the Acute
Psychiatric Unit at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Ennis, where he
remains.

An airport spokesman said the pilot requested a "medical diversion" but
did not declare an official emergency.

Air Canada said in a written statement: "The captain and crew of flight
AC848 followed standard operating procedures in light of the co- pilot
falling ill. The captain elected to divert to Shannon and landed without
incident. At no time was safety compromised."

The incident will be investigated by Air Canada and the Air
Transportation Safety Board in Canada, with the inquiry likely to focus
on whether the crew member had shown previous signs of illness.


Werewolfy....Look Douglas, yell too much and you too might be certified.
It would be 'just'.