愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Pilot thought instructor who died in-flight was 'just pretending'

A Piper PA-28-161 airplane similar to the one involved in the incident at Blackpool. (Aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty Images) A Piper PA-28-161 airplane similar to the one involved in the incident at Blackpool. (Aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty Images)
Share

A flying instructor died in-flight after suffering a cardiac arrest, but his co-pilot thought he was fooling around and only realized after landing on the runway with the man slumped on his shoulder.

According to a newly published on the incident, the pilot thought the instructor was pretending to be asleep as the pair flew a circuit above near Blackpool Airport in Lancashire, England, on June 29, 2022.

The qualified pilot had asked the instructor to accompany him aboard the four-person Piper PA-28 for safety reasons during windy conditions, according to the U.K.'s Air Accidents Investigation Branch report.

Prior to takeoff, the pair chatted normally while the pilot taxied the craft out to the runway, the pilot told the AAIB. He said that the instructor's last words were, "Looks good, there is nothing behind you."

Shortly after takeoff, the instructor's head rolled back. As the two pilots knew each other well, the co-pilot thought his companion was "just pretending to take a nap" while he completed the circuit, the report said. When the plane turned around, the instructor slumped over so that his head rested on the co-pilot's shoulder, but again the pilot still thought a joke was being played on him.

After landing safely with the instructor still resting on his shoulder and not responding, the pilot realized something was wrong and alerted airport emergency services who were unable to revive the instructor.

The instructor, who had close to 9,000 hours of flying experience, was said to be in good spirits before his final flight.

"People who had spoken to him on the morning of the incident said he was his normal cheerful self and there were no indications that he was feeling unwell," the AAIB report said. "The three people who had flown with him for the trial lesson just prior to the incident flight said he seemed well and nothing abnormal had occurred."

The medical department of the U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority reviewed the incident and the instructor's medical history and concluded that, "From the evidence provided, it is likely the individual suffered a cardiac arrest as the aircraft took off." He was known to suffer from high blood pressure, but it was within regulatory limits.

The AAIB's report concludes that, while on this occasion the instructor's co-pilot was qualified and was able to land the plane safely, the outcome could have been very different.

"No tests or assessment can give a 100 per cent reliable detection of cardiac issues" and "a balance needs to be struck between minimizing the risk to flight safety and providing fair and reasonable medical assessment of individuals," says the AAIB. "The rarity of accidents cause by cardiac events in flight suggests this balance is currently about right."

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'

A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.

A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building in Old Montreal early Friday morning, sources told Noovo Info.

Local Spotlight

Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.

A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.

The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.

A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north

What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.

New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.