A pilot on a Miami to Chile flight with 271 passengers onboard died after he collapsed in the bathroom of the plane. Three hours into the LATAM Airlines flight from Florida to Santiago, Captain Ivan Andaur began feeling unwell and received medical emergency treatment from the crew as he collapsed in the bathroom, reported Simple Flying. It took the flight thirty minutes to divert to Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport where the first responders declared the Andaur dead when the plane landed, as per an Independent report.
“LATAM Airlines Group reports that flight LA505 yesterday, which was on the Miami-Santiago route, had to land at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama due to a medical emergency for one of the three members of the command crew. When the plane landed, emergency services provided life-saving help, but the pilot sadly passed away,” the airline said in a statement, as per the Independent report.
“We are deeply moved by what has happened, and we extend our sincere condolences to the family of our employee. We are deeply grateful for his 25-year career and his valuable contribution, which was always distinguished by his dedication, professionalism, and dedication. During the flight, all the necessary safety protocols were carried out to safeguard the life of the affected pilot,” it added.
After the incident, the flight resumed its journey from Panama City on Tuesday to Chile.
In March this year, one of the pilots onboard a Southwest Airlines flight fell ill and the plane had to return to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas after departing for Columbus in Ohio.
An off-duty pilot from another airline was onboard the flight as a passenger and helped with radio communications as the flight returned to Nevada city, the report added.