A holiday flight carrying passengers from Spain to the UK was forced into an emergency landing in Portugal after the pilot suffered a suspected heart attack at 30,000ft.
Panic unfolded aboard Jet2 flight LS1266 when the aircraft suddenly began descending as it diverted to Porto in the early hours of Friday.
Witnesses described cabin crew running through the aisle in tears, asking if any passengers had medical training as the cockpit drama unfolded.
“My partner and I were asleep when we were awoken by chaos,” one passenger said.
“Lights were flashing and hostesses were visibly upset, asking for a doctor.
“Our two-year-old started crying like many other children as the plane dropped so quickly for an emergency landing.”
The Airbus A321, carrying up to 220 passengers, touched down at Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport about 2.11am.
Emergency services were waiting on the runway and rushed onboard to treat the stricken pilot in the cockpit before he was taken to hospital.
Passengers were then left stranded in Porto for about 13 hours before continuing their journey from Tenerife to Birmingham on a replacement flight with a new cockpit crew.
Passengers Stranded for Hours
“We were stranded in Portugal for over 13 hours without accommodation,” one traveller said.
“They wouldn’t let us off the plane for over an hour, then we were just left to wander.
“There was nowhere to stay. They said accommodation was too expensive.”
Jet2 later flew in a pilot from Manchester to assist with the return journey.
One passenger said the airline informed them the pilot had suffered a heart attack, though Jet2 later said the diversion was due to a pilot feeling unwell.
Jet2 said: “At no point was safety compromised and customers subsequently continued their journey.
“We would like to apologise for the unforeseen delay.”
