Air Canada flight with 61 passengers diverts to Boston after captain is removed from cockpit midair
An Air Canada flight was forced to make an unexpected diversion to Boston's Logan International Airport on Wednesday after the captain suffered a midair medical emergency, according to the airline.
Flight AC7664, operated by regional partner PAL Airlines, was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with 61 passengers on board the De Havilland Q400 turboprop when the incident occurred.
Air Canada told Fox News the captain experienced a medical issue and had to be removed from the flight deck in accordance with safety protocols.
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The first officer was forced to take sole control of the aircraft, successfully diverting the plane and safely touching down in Boston at 1:37 p.m. local time.
Airline officials said their pilots are fully trained to fly and land safely without the assistance of a second pilot.
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) confirmed the aircraft landed without incident, and Massport Fire Rescue and Boston EMS "responded to the crew as necessary."
The captain, whose condition was not immediately released, was taken for medical treatment in Boston, according to Air Canada.
It is unclear what the medical issue entailed.
The airline is working to provide the affected passengers with new travel arrangements so they can complete their journeys to Halifax.