Pilot Dies Aboard Airplane, Forcing Emergency Landing
A pilot died onboard a commercial flight from Miami to Santiago, Chile, forcing the airplane to make an emergency landing.
According to passengers, 56-year-old LATAM pilot Iván Andaur entered the restroom early into Sunday night’s flight. While it’s unclear what exactly happened to Andaur after that, those aboard paint a chilling picture. One traveler reported that, about 40 minutes after takeoff, one of the two co-pilots asked if there were any doctors on the plane. A few minutes later, a flight attendant asked if anyone aboard had items for someone who was insulin-dependent.
An announcement was then made informing everyone that the plane would be making an emergency landing in Panama City. The co-pilots were tasked with safely bringing the plane down at Tocumen International Airport, where paramedics immediately boarded the plane. An anonymous passenger recounted the dramatic scene.
“They told us that we were going to land because the pilot felt sick and when we arrived they asked us to evacuate the plane because the situation had worsened.”
An anonymous nurse who assisted Andaur recalled the event on social media.
"Unfortunately, we did not have the necessary or sufficient supplies to perform a good resuscitation,” the woman remarked. She called upon the airline to put better protections into place. “LATAM needs to improve the issue of protocol in case of health and medical emergencies like this where lives can be saved but the resources are needed.”
LATAM told The New York Post: “All the necessary protocols were followed during the flight to safeguard the life of the affected pilot. Unfortunately, after landing and receiving further medical assistance, the pilot passed away.”
They were quick to honor Andaur and his career with LATAM in a statement after his death: “We are deeply grateful for his 25-year career and his valuable contribution, who has always stood out for his dedication, professionalism, and commitment.”
Passengers on the flight were booked into nearby hotels, and their trip resumed Tuesday afternoon.