A pilot with 25 years of flight experience died midair after falling ill, leaving fellow command crew to land the plane.
Online reports gathered that the American pilot flying 271 passengers from Miami to Chile died on board after collapsing in the bathroom.
Captain Ivan Andaur began feeling unwell three hours into the LATAM Airlines flight from Florida to Santiago and after collapsing in the bathroom, he received emergency treatment from the crew, reported Simple Flying.
The flight took thirty minutes to divert to Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport and first responders declared Andaur, a veteran pilot, dead when the plane landed.
The LA505 flight, which was operating a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, left Miami at 10.11pm on Monday 14 August and also had a relief captain and first officer onboard when the incident took place.
“LATAM Airlines Group reports that flight LA505 yesterday, which was on the Miami-Santiago route, had to land at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama due to a medical emergency for one of the three members of the command crew. When the plane landed, emergency services provided life-saving help, but the pilot sadly passed away,” the airline said in a statement.
“We are deeply moved by what has happened, and we extend our sincere condolences to the family of our employee. We are deeply grateful for his 25-year career and his valuable contribution, which was always distinguished by his dedication, professionalism, and dedication. During the flight, all the necessary safety protocols were carried out to safeguard the life of the affected pilot.”
Following the incident, the flight left Panama City on Tuesday and continued on to Chile.
