Aircraft Lands Safely

On Wednesday, 22 March 2023, a credentialed, off-duty pilot traveling as a passenger aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 6013 from Las Vegas’s Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to Columbus, Ohio’s John Glenn-Columbus International Airport (CMH) helped land the Southwest Boeing 737 after the aircraft’s Pilot In Command (PIC/captain) became incapacitated shortly after departure.

Records of air traffic control radio transmissions indicated Southwest Airlines’ crew-members reported Flight 6013’s captain had suffered stomach pain and fell unconscious in the moments following the flight’s 06:33 PDT departure.

An off-duty pilot in the employ of another airline entered the Southwest 737’s flight deck and assisted the remaining SWA flight crewmember with radio calls as the aircraft reversed course and returned to LAS.

"He is in the back of the aircraft right now with the flight attendants. But we need to get him on an ambulance immediately," an unidentified pilot radioing from the flight deck of Flight 6013 advised LAS air traffic control.

The Southwest jet arrived safely back at LAS where waiting emergency personnel attended its afflicted captain.

In a post-incident statement, Southwest airlines set forth: "We greatly appreciate their [the off-duty pilot’s] support and assistance. … All Southwest pilots are trained to fly as single pilots for situations such as this one and our pilot exhibited exceptional airmanship while in control of the aircraft.”

In keeping with applicable privacy statutes, the incapacitated Southwest pilot's status remains undisclosed.

An alternate Southwest flight-crew was subsequently summoned and Flight 6013 departed for Columbus.

"We commend the crew for their professionalism and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding regarding the situation," Southwest said in a statement.

In a statement of its own addressing the LAS incident, the FAA asserted: “The FAA has strict medical requirements for airline pilots, so it’s rare for them to experience medical issues during flight. The FAA has long required flight-crews to be trained on how to respond if a pilot becomes unable to perform his duties.”

The FAA continues to investigate the incident.

FMI: www.southwest.com