Panic as Jet2 pilot suffers suspected heart attack at 30,000ft

Passengers suffered terrifying scenes when Jet2 flight LS1266 diverted for an emergency landing after the captain fell seriously ill at altitude. Cabin crew raced through the aisles in tears and pleaded for any medically trained travellers to assist during the cockpit crisis.

Holidaymakers awoken by sudden chaos

One passenger explained to the Sun that he and his partner were sleeping when noise and flashing lights jolted them awake. Hostesses appeared visibly upset and called out for a doctor. Their two-year-old child started crying, just like many other youngsters on board, as the Airbus A321 dropped quickly towards Porto in Portugal. Up to 220 people sat aboard the plane bound from Tenerife to Birmingham.

An aircraft touches down in the early hours

Crew members brought the jet safely to Porto’s Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport at 2.11am on Friday, May 22. Emergency teams were waiting on the runway and boarded immediately to treat the pilot inside the cockpit. Paramedics then rushed him to hospital for urgent care. The first officer handled controls throughout the diversion.

Travellers face long waits in Portugal

Frustrated customers remained stuck at the airport for over 13 hours with minimal support. Officials kept everyone on the aircraft for more than an hour after landing before allowing them into the terminal. Many simply wandered around with nowhere to rest because staff claimed accommodation costs proved too high. Jet2 arranged for a replacement pilot to fly in from Manchester so passengers could finally continue their journey home.

Airline offers compensation and apology

Representatives later confirmed the diversion happened on 21 May because one pilot felt unwell. Officials stressed that safety stayed fully intact at all times and expressed regret for the unexpected delay. Customers received options for a free switch to any of 14 UK destinations on future Jet2 services within the next week. Many travellers voiced sympathy for the captain while expressing irritation at the extended disruption.

Passenger, Millie Douglass explained that while at the airport, “We were left in Porto Airport for around 12 hours during the early hours of the morning and were given only €10 spending money by the airline. My mum, who was suffering from a bacterial throat infection, ended up sleeping on the airport floor alongside my 69-year-old grandmother because there was no suitable accommodation or support provided.”