Incident followed reported fainting of easyJet co-pilot on flight into Lisbon
An easyJet plane bound for Lisbon had to turn back to Faro and make a reported emergency landing – hours after a co-pilot for the low cost airline reportedly fainted en-route to Lisbon.
The aircraft with 161 passengers on board hit a bird shortly after take-off yesterday afternoon.
Flight tracking information showed that it aborted its journey and landed again at Faro at 5.40pm – 44 minutes after taking off.
The Daily Mail has covered the incident, showing the plane’s looping trajectory south of Faro.
The incident is understood to have triggered a ‘red code’ alert at the airport with emergency response vehicles being mobilised although the plane managed to land safely.
Witnesses said over social media that flight U28538 had been unable to gain altitude and the engines ‘sounded very strange’.
The plane then spent 25 minutes burning fuel over the ocean before landing.
A spokesperson for easyJet said in a statement: ‘easyJet can confirm that flight EZY8538 from Faro to Lisbon was cancelled after returning to stand due to a birdstrike shortly after take-off.
‘The pilot performed a routine landing in line with procedures and passengers disembarked normally in Faro where we have been providing assistance with alternative options as well as hotel accommodation and meals for those who require them.
‘Whilst this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank passengers for their understanding.’
The incident happened hours after a co-pilot on an easyJet plane heading from London to Lisbon with 193 passengers on board reportedly fainted and had to be taken to hospital after arrival.
It was not immediately clear what airport the plane had left from, although it is thought to have been London Luton.
Local reports said the pilot landed the aircraft without any problems and his colleague was attended to by paramedics on the runway before being taken to Lisbon’s Santa Maria Hospital.
Speaking about the incident, retired TAP pilot José Correia Guedes said over ‘X’, formerly Twitter: “Incapacitation cases are a plague of modern times.
“In 37 years of activity of TAP I have known only one case. Today it is a rare week that a plane does not make an emergency landing for this reason.
“What’s up? I suspect it’s extreme fatigue, the worst thing that can happen to an airline pilot.
“It also serves to remember that the idea of the single pilot cockpit leaves a lot to be desired. This is one of the most stressful professions on the planet”.
The Mail has detailed other incidents of pilots falling ill, underscoring the comments by José Correia Guedes who has included an update on yesterday’s incidents: “Good news from a family source, the easyJet co-pilot interned at Santa Maria Hospital is well and undergoing clinical evaluation exams. He did not faint during the flight, he simply felt ill”.
It is understood that the co-pilot is Portuguese.
Source material: Daily Mail/ ‘X’ formerly Twitter
