'Belligerent' First Officer Was Removed From Cockpit

Back in January, ANN reported on what had to be a scary event for the crew of a trans-Atlantic Air Canada flight. At the time, little information was released, but Agence-France Presse has published new details from a report by the Irish transport ministry.

The Boeing 767 was headed from London to Toronto with 146 passengers and a crew of nine on January 28. The captain told investigators his first officer arrived late for the flight, and looked, "quite harried." Out over the Atlantic Ocean, the FO repeatedly complained he was "very tired," and the captain suggested he take a break.

The report says that as the flight approached the mid-Atlantic, the co-pilot, "began conversation which was rambling and disjointed in nature and not at all in character, as the commander knew him to be an outgoing and talkative person."

The man then, "became belligerent and uncooperative which convinced the commander he was now dealing with a crew member who was effectively incapacitated." When ordered to secure his seat belt, he was described as "unresponsive."

Other crew members removed the man from the controls, and he was cared for by British and Canadian doctors on board. They described his condition as "confused and disorientated." The captain diverted to Ireland, and a flight attendant with a commercial pilot's licence took the right seat.

Irish air accident investigator Leo Murray praised the captain for his "tact and understanding" in handling the situation. The identities of that captain, and his stricken co-pilot, have never been released. The first officer was treated in an Irish hospital for 11 days following the incident.

Air Canada stressed at the time that passenger safety was never compromised.

FMI: www.aircanada.com