Jet Airways plane makes emergency landing as pilot taken ill

A city-bound Jet Airways flight from Bangkok with 121 passengers onboard landed in emergency conditions at IGI airport in Delhi on Thursday after its commander was taken ill mid-air, forcing the co-pilot to take the controls.

"The Captain of Jet Airways flight 9W-063 Bangkok-Delhi fell sick during the latter part of the flight. The first officer took over as the commander and declared an Emergency as per company and regulatory requirements," an airline spokesperson said in a statement, adding the aircraft landed safely at Delhi Airport.

The co-pilot informed the Delhi ATC about the Commander's health, seeking its help to land and clear the runway just about 40 minutes prior to the scheduled landing time, when the aircraft was flying over Lucknow skies, sources said here.

The plane made an emergency landing post-midnight at Indira Gandhi International Airport, they said adding aviation regulator DGCA has already initiated a probe into the incident. The Jet Airways spokesperson said that the first officer was assisted by another Jet Airways captain who was travelling as a passenger on the same flight.

The first officer took over as the commander and declared an emergency. This is done so that the flight is accorded high priority and preparations are made for the flight's arrival on the ground, the statement said adding the aircraft landed safely at Delhi Airport.

The airline also said that the sick commander was looked after by a doctor who was among the passengers. As part of Jet Airways flight training programme, its flight crew and cabin crew are routinely trained to handle such situation as well as other possible exigencies that may develop during flight, the airline said. 

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