Passenger Plane Carrying 270 Dies Mid-Flight... First Officer's Dramatic Emergency Landing

Lost consciousness and collapsed from cardiac arrest 40 minutes after takeoff
Nurse: "Insufficient cardiopulmonary resuscitation equipment available"

The captain of a passenger plane heading from Miami, USA to Chile collapsed during the flight, and two co-pilots took control and made an emergency landing in Panama City. The captain was transferred to an emergency treatment center after landing but ultimately passed away.

Pilot Ivan Andaur (56) who died during flight [Photo by Facebook]

On the 16th (local time), the New York Post reported that on the night of the 14th around 11 PM, Ivan Andaur (56), the captain of LATAM Airlines flight LA05 from Miami to Chile, died of a heart attack during the flight.

When the captain lost consciousness due to the heart attack and normal flight became impossible, the two co-pilots made an emergency landing at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. The crew made an announcement to find two nurses and doctors among the passengers to perform emergency treatment.

A passenger on the flight at the time said, "About 40 minutes after takeoff, there was an announcement asking for medical personnel among the passengers," adding, "I also heard that the pilot was in poor condition and that they would be landing."

After the plane made the emergency landing, the captain was moved to the airport's emergency treatment center but had already passed away. Approximately 270 passengers on board were moved to a hotel in Panama City, and the flight resumed later, arriving in Chile on the 16th.

A nurse who assisted with the captain's emergency treatment said, "Unfortunately, the plane was not sufficiently equipped with the necessary equipment to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation," adding, "There is a need to improve protocol issues to prepare for such emergencies."

However, LATAM Airlines responded, "All necessary protocols to protect the life of the collapsed pilot were followed," and added, "The LATAM Group is deeply saddened by this incident and would like to express its sincerest condolences to the families of the staff."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.