Passengers on a flight to Cyprus Sunday experienced the scare of a lifetime.

According to Metro.co, TUI Airways Flight 1714 was en route from Newcastle, England, to Larnaca International Airport when several passengers reported seeing the pilot on the ground of the cockpit just 16 minutes into the journey.

The fear among the passengers only increased as flight attendants were seen transporting oxygen tanks to the front of the plane. A person onboard at the time of the incident said the pilot could be seen collapsed on the floor with coffee spilled all over the cockpit.

Due to the quick thinking of the flight crew and the co-pilot, the plane called for an emergency landing and touched down safely at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria. The pilot was transported to a local hospital for examination.

“We can confirm that as a result of one of our pilots feeling unwell, the decision was taken to divert the Newcastle to Larnaca, Cyprus, flight last night. A priority landing was requested at Sofia, Bulgaria, which was the closest airport and the pilot was taken to a nearby hospital to be assessed,” a TUI Airways official told Metro.co.

“We would like to thank all of our customers for their patience and we are working to get them on their holiday as quickly as possible. The welfare of all customers and crew travelling with us is our priority at all times.”

But passengers were then left spend the night in a hotel before taking another plane from Bulgaria to Cyprus yesterday afternoon. Annoyed by the lack of information, Samantha Eaton tweeted: ‘What the hell is going on, diverted to Sofia, trying to get home to Larnaca! 24-hour helpline no helps no flight info.’

While Hannah Foxcroft tweeted: ‘Yeah we are stuck in Sofia – Bulgaria for the night! Don’t know anything about the return flight back though.’ Thomson Airways told Metro.co.uk: ‘We can confirm that as a result of one of our pilots feeling unwell, the decision was taken to divert the

Newcastle to Larnaca, Cyprus flight last night. ‘A priority landing was requested at Sofia, Bulgaria which was the closest airport and the pilot was taken to a nearby hospital to be assessed.


https://www.sagetravels.com/tui-airways-pilot-collapses-mid-flight-during-trip-to-larnaca-cyprus/

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