An Air Canada flight made an unscheduled landing at Boston Logan International Airport on Wednesday after the aircraft’s captain experienced a medical emergency during the trip, the airline said.
Flight AC7664, operated by Air Canada’s regional partner PAL Airlines, was traveling from Newark, New Jersey, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The De Havilland Q400 turboprop was carrying 61 passengers when the situation unfolded.
Air Canada told Fox News that the captain suffered a medical issue and was removed from the flight deck as required under established safety procedures.
FILE – An Air Canada aircraft was diverted to Boston on Wednesday after the captain experienced a medical issue, officials said. (Mike Campbell/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The first officer then took control of the aircraft alone, diverted the flight to Boston and landed safely at 1:37 p.m. local time.
Airline representatives said Air Canada pilots are thoroughly trained to operate and land an aircraft safely even without support from a second pilot.
FILE – Officials said the plane landed safely at Boston Logan International Airport in Winthrop, Massachusetts, after the incident. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The Massachusetts Port Authority, known as Massport, confirmed the plane arrived without incident. Massport Fire Rescue and Boston EMS “responded to the crew as necessary,” the agency said.
The captain, whose condition was not immediately released, was taken for medical treatment in Boston, according to Air Canada.
FILE – The incident comes months after an Air Canada jet and a Port Authority fire truck collided on the runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York in March. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)
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.
