Hero off duty Jet2 pilot steps in to safely land plane after original pilot, 40, fainted in cockpit

EXCLUSIVE: Hero off duty Jet2 pilot steps in to safely land plane after original pilot, 40, fainted in cockpit on flight from Manchester to Madeira

  • A Jet2 flight bound for Madeira made an emergency landing at Porto, Portugal
  • The alarm is said to have been sounded around 10.20am local time today 
  • Another pilot who was on holiday on the plane stepped in, entering the cabin  
  • The original pilot is understood to have been taken to hospital on arrival 
  • Were you on the flight or in the area? Email: milly.vincent@mailonline.co.uk 

A Jet2 flight bound for Madeira has made an emergency landing at Porto after the pilot fainted and another, who happened to be on board the plane on holiday, entered the cabin for landing.

The Boeing 757 was on its way from Manchester to Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, when the pilot fell ill. 

The 40-year-old pilot is understood to have been taken to hospital on arrival.

Stranded passengers wait in Porto Airport, Portugal after their flight was diverted due to the medical emergency

Alarms were raised at around 10.20am local time today and a runway was closed for half an hour until 11am so the emergency landing could take place.

Airport sources told local media the airport was now operating normally.

Medical responders sad they had received a request to assist a 40-year-old man who was taken to hospital ‘as a precaution.’

Nicholas Banks, a bank worker who was on the plane said: ‘They made the announcement that there had been an incident on the flight deck and another Jet2 pilot who happened to be on holiday came forward from the back of the plane.

A jet2.com plane (file photo)

A jet2.com Boeing (file photo)

Flight LS765 from Manchester to Funchal diverted to Porto as a precautionary measure this morning

Flight LS765 from Manchester to Funchal diverted to Porto as a precautionary measure this morning

‘He offered up his services to the crew and went into the cabin. He didn’t come out until he helped the pilot off the plane when we landed.

‘The original pilot was wheeled off in wheelchair with an oxygen mask but we couldn’t really see.’

‘The crew did a great job. I was quite relaxed because of the spare pilot and that there was a co-pilot.’

‘Now we are stuck in this airport with nothing but a Costa coffee and we are not sure what’s happening.’

Jet2 tweeted in response to the incident: 'We would like to apologise to customers travelling on #LS765 from #Manchester to Funchal, #Madeira'

Jet2 tweeted in response to the incident: ‘We would like to apologise to customers travelling on #LS765 from #Manchester to Funchal, #Madeira’

Mark Blinston took to Twitter to voice his frustration over the lack of Jet2 reps in the Porto airport

Mark Blinston took to Twitter to voice his frustration over the lack of Jet2 reps in the Porto airport

Jet2 tweeted in response to the incident: ‘We would like to apologise to customers travelling on #LS765 from #Manchester to Funchal, #Madeira which has diverted into Porto, #Portugal due to an onboard medical situation. We are working to get you on your way ASAP. Please see our agents ‘Portway’ at Gate 2 for more info. Tx’

A spokesman for Jet2 said: ‘Flight LS765 from Manchester to Funchal diverted to Porto as a precautionary measure this morning, due to one of the pilots feeling unwell.

‘A standby aircraft and replacement crew will be flown to Porto so that we can get customers on their way to Funchal as soon as possible.’

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