Pilot with nausea: Passenger plane from Mallorca makes intermediate landing in Milan

Sequence of the emergency

After the safe landing in Milan Malpensa, medical personnel approached the aircraft to care for the commander. Details about his state of health were not released. According to the available reports, a replacement aircraft or an onward flight was organized for the affected passengers.

The incident is part of a series of intermediate landings by European aircraft in recent years in which pilots had fallen ill during flight. In such cases, the European aviation authorities refer to existing emergency protocols, according to which the second pilot or a capable co-pilot can take control of the aircraft and land it at the nearest suitable airport.

Flights of the Boeing 737 Max 8 type are widespread in European commercial aviation. The aircraft belongs to the medium-haul fleet of several airlines and is also used by LOT Polish Airlines on tourist routes between Poland and Spanish destinations. A statement from the airline on the specific incident was not initially available.

Possible causes

The cause of the pilot's nausea had not been conclusively clarified at the time of the report. Possible reasons, according to aviation medical experts, could be dehydration, gastrointestinal complaints, or a circulatory problem. An official diagnosis was pending.

Milan Malpensa airport is one of the most important international hubs in northern Italy and is located around 50 kilometers northwest of the Lombard capital. Because of its long runways and medical infrastructure, it is regularly used as a diversion airport in medical emergencies in the air.

Milan Malpensa airport as a diversion destination

The incident occurred late on Wednesday evening or in the early morning hours of Thursday and occupied the aviation authority in Italy. The national civil aviation authority was informed according to the available reports. Further investigations or consequences for flight operations were not initially known.

Travelers on the Palma–Warsaw route must expect delays following this incident, as the lost flight operations had to be organizationally absorbed on the affected day.

The Polish airline LOT is one of the largest airlines in Central Europe and operates a dense route network between Poland and Mediterranean destinations. On the Mallorca–Warsaw connection, several flights per week are offered during the summer months, used primarily by holidaymakers.