Pilot Flips his Lid Mid Flight

[Ansett]

Pilot's flip-out panics passengers

Would make me slightly nervous how about you?

 

[QF WP]

I think all the pax are especially lucky there was a deadheading Captain on board. Presumably the SO became PIC thus the reason they hadn't already plunged into a dive when the Capt flipped his lid.

 

[markis10]

The passengers of a Silk Air flight were not so lucky when a suspected similar thing happened.

 

[jb747]

I think all the pax are especially lucky there was a deadheading Captain on board. Presumably the SO became PIC thus the reason they hadn't already plunged into a dive when the Capt flipped his lid.

I doubt that there was an SO. An FO for sure. Realistically, it would be a very poor FO who couldn't get the aircraft on the ground without a captain sitting next to him (actually, given the experience levels some airlines consider adequate for FO's, I guess that comment won't apply to all airlines).

In any two pilot operation, a total 'flip out' by one pilot, executed at the right time, would be impossible for the other guy to fix.

 

[Flying Fox]

Glad that he wasn't able to get back into the coughpit after losing his marbles.

 

[amaroo]

That would have been a very unpleasant flight for everyone on board.

 

[docjames]

I wonder if the trip to the bathroom was "suggested" by the FO who had the foresight that something was awry?

Does the ntsb investigate this sort of incident? Will an official report be published or do we rely on "investigative journalism" (sic) to fill us in??

 

[jb747]

I wonder if the trip to the bathroom was "suggested" by the FO who had the foresight that something was awry?

That cuts both ways. Perfectly sound pilot goes to toilet, and is locked out by the other guy. That's was happened on Silk Air....

Does the ntsb investigate this sort of incident? Will an official report be published or do we rely on "investigative journalism" (sic) to fill us in??

The NTSB will certainly investigate it. Whether it's considered worthy of a report is something else entirely.

"An off-duty captain who just happened to be a passenger on the flight went to the flight deck and took over the duties of the ill captain "once on the ground", the airline said in a statement. It didn't elaborate."

That's from the Age. It would indicate that the FO refused to open the coughpit door in flight (for either captain), which is a sensible and correct response. Getting the other guy up after landing also makes sense, as some aircraft are not set up to allow the FO to taxi, and the alignment system at the parking gates must always be used from the left hand seat.

 

[BAM1748]

Scary for the passengers, and sad for the pilot. A lose lose situation.

Matt

 

[samh004]

That's from the Age. It would indicate that the FO refused to open the coughpit door in flight (for either captain), which is a sensible and correct response. Getting the other guy up after landing also makes sense, as some aircraft are not set up to allow the FO to taxi, and the alignment system at the parking gates must always be used from the left hand seat.

Is there any reason the FO couldn’t have changed seats?

 

[rechoboam]

That cuts both ways. Perfectly sound pilot goes to toilet, and is locked out by the other guy. That's was happened on Silk Air....



The NTSB will certainly investigate it. Whether it's considered worthy of a report is something else entirely.



That's from the Age. It would indicate that the FO refused to open the coughpit door in flight (for either captain), which is a sensible and correct response. Getting the other guy up after landing also makes sense, as some aircraft are not set up to allow the FO to taxi, and the alignment system at the parking gates must always be used from the left hand seat.

Isn't there- shouldn't there be a physical or code-based override for a captain/FO outside?


Silk Air was very worrying. I was on the next flight out on the same route if I remember rightly and I think we flew right over the wreckage.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Or Egypt Air flight 990 (even though the NTSB + ECAA came to 2 different conclusions, l'm siding with the NTSB)

EgyptAir Flight 990 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[jb747]

Is there any reason the FO couldn’t have changed seats?

Not really. But, if it's one of those airlines that doesn't let FOs taxi at all (and so don't even have a tiller), he'd be silly to attempt to park it himself. In that case, let the other guy in, or just stop, and have it towed to the gate.

 

[Major]

Interesting Court documentation filed for this incident

 

[jb747]

Interesting Court documentation filed for this incident

I guess you can't just say someone's a fruit loop....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I wonder if locks on coughpit doors of JetBlue A320 have a "deny" setting so even if the Captain entered the correct code he still wouldn't be able to unlock it.

After reading the above documents it sounds as though the only reason he couldn't access the flight deck was due to cabin crew & other pax physically restraining him.

 

[RBC]

I wonder if locks on coughpit doors of JetBlue A320 have a "deny" setting so even if the Captain entered the correct code he still wouldn't be able to unlock it.

After reading the above documents it sounds as though the only reason he couldn't access the flight deck was due to cabin crew & other pax physically restraining him.

Its been reported that after the Capt left the coughpit, the FO locked the door and changed the code (presume overide code).

I daresay any other mechanisms for overide are not going to be a matter of public record

 

[Sprucegoose]

The passengers of a Silk Air flight were not so lucky when a suspected similar thing happened.

I have a mate who checked into that flight. Boss rang him, meeting in SIN was off. He left the airport.

BP is framed in his office.

 

[jb747]

Its been reported that after the Capt left the coughpit, the FO locked the door and changed the code (presume overide code).

I daresay any other mechanisms for overide are not going to be a matter of public record

He doesn't need to change the code. External access can readily be blocked.

 

[amaroo]

I have a mate who checked into that flight. Boss rang him, meeting in SIN was off. He left the airport.

BP is framed in his office.

Wow - that would make you shake in your boots.