Co-Pilot Hospitalized, May Have Suffered Breakdown

The co-pilot of an Air Canada flight from Toronto to London is now hospitalized in Shannon, Ireland, after suffering what has been termed in news reports as a nervous breakdown.

The Globe and Mail reports Flight AC848 was an hour out from London on Monday, when some kind of incident occurred in the cockpit.

"The captain advised air traffic control that he was going to divert to Shannon due to a crew member being unwell," said Shannon International Airport spokesman Eugene Pratt. "It wasn't an emergency landing. This was just a diversion, a medical diversion."

An ambulance met the plane, and took the co-pilot to the hospital. Pratt would not confirm reports the co-pilot had suffered a breakdown.

"We don't want to comment on that," he said. "I've heard those reports as well. Given the sensitive nature of that, I'm not going to comment."

Citing other, unnamed airport officials, however, the Irish Independent reports the co-pilot was admitted to the psychiatric unit of an area hospital... after being forcibly removed from the plane by crewmembers, and an off-duty officer with the Canadian Armed Forces.

At no time was the safety of the 149 passengers onboard the 767-300 compromised, stressed Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick. He would not comment on reports of the co-pilot's mental health, saying only he "is now in hospital care and because of the personnel issue and privacy issue, we're not going to have any other details."

Passengers continued on to London with a replacement flight crew, after an eight-hour delay.

FMI: www.aircanada.com