Red alert issued after co-pilot faints mid-air on London-Lisbon flight with 193 onboard

The EasyJet flight's pilot managed to land the plane without any complications.

In a dramatic mid-air incident, an EasyJet flight from London Luton to Lisbon was thrown into chaos when the co-pilot fainted, causing a red alert to be issued. The incident occurred with 193 passengers onboard.

Paramedics rushed to Lisbon’s Santa Maria Hospital with the co-pilot after the aircraft made an emergency landing. The flight's pilot managed to land the plane without any complications.

"EasyJet can confirm that the flight EZY2459 from Luton to Lisbon was met by the paramedics upon landing due to a crew member feeling unwell. The flight landed safely in line with procedures and passengers disembarked normally. At no point was the safety of the flight compromised. The safety and welfare of passengers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority," an EasyJet spokesperson stated.

A red alert, which mandates a complete halt of operations as a safety measure, was issued immediately after the co-pilot's fainting. This protocol is designed to protect both passengers and crew during such emergencies.

This incident is part of a concerning trend of in-flight medical issues among flight staff. Last December, a Ryanair aircraft en route from London Stansted to Morocco was forced to make an emergency landing at Faro Airport after the pilot became ill.

A spokesman for Ryanair commented on the situation at the time, saying, “This flight from Stansted to Morocco diverted to Faro when one of the pilots became ill. The aircraft landed normally, and passengers were transferred to an alternative aircraft operated by another crew before continuing to Morocco.”

Similarly, in April, an EasyJet flight from London Gatwick to Agadir in Morocco had to divert to Faro due to the First Officer requiring medical assistance.