Passengers aboard an Air Canada flight were embroiled in an impossible situation aboard a flight this week as they restrained the pilot of the aircraft, who was experiencing an apparent seizure mid-flight. The incident took place June 24, 2026.
A Medical Emergency
While en route to Nova Scotia from New Jersey, Air Canada Flight AC7664, operated by regional partner PAL Airlines, was plunged into chaos as the pilot began experiencing a medial emergency mid flight. A number of passengers believed that the pilot appeared to be having a seizure, and intervened.
When it became apparent that the pilot was experiencing a serious medical emergency, he was removed from the cockpit by members of the cabin crew staff, and brought into the main cabin while the first officer took operational control. The aircraft, which was a De Havilland Q400, was then diverted to Boston, Massachusetts, where it landed safely.
Emergency responders met the aircraft after it landed in Boston, and, according to the airline, the captain was quickly taken to a hospital to receive medical attention once the aircraft had touched down. Air Canada also stated that it is working to organise alternate travel options for those on board the diverted flight, which was carrying 61 passengers.
Passenger Intervention
One passenger who was travelling on the Air Canada flight with his wife and two sons, Rodney McDonald, reported that those onboard realised something was amiss when the aircraft faltered and unexpectedly jolted. He described the haphazard movement as unlike turbulence, which created panic and confusion.
Shortly after, the pilot was brought into the main cabin, and McDonald detailed stepping in to assist in restraining the pilot with seatbelts alongside approximately four other passengers. He commented,
“The pilot was out of control physically, not violently, like it was clear that he was not in control of his faculties and needed to be restrained. [We] worked to get him under control, it was a fairly strenuous 40 minutes of keeping him down and using as many seatbelts as we could to restrain his legs, arms and chest.”
Despite the chaos, McDonald highlighted that the flight attendants remained calm throughout the ordeal, praising their professionalism. He went on to express gratitude that everyone made it off the aircraft safely when it landed in Boston.
According to McDonald, a registered nurse on board directed the passengers, and helped respond to the mid-air medical emergency. It is, however, important to note that the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is the national public health agency in the U.S., advises that those potentially experiencing a seizure should not be held down due to risk of further injury to the patient, or to the person restraining them. The official advice for potential seizures recommends readjusting the person gently onto their side, cushioning their head, and removing any potentially harmful objects out of the near vicinity.
What do you think about the reactions of passengers and cabin crew? Let us know in the comments.
