During a flight from Miami to Chile, a tragic incident occurred as an airline pilot lost his life after collapsing in the aircraft’s bathroom while carrying 271 passengers.
The pilot, identified as Captain Ivan Andaur, began experiencing discomfort approximately three hours into the journey aboard the LATAM Airlines flight from Florida to Santiago.
Following his collapse in the restroom, the flight crew promptly administered emergency medical assistance, according to a report by Simple Flying.
In response to the situation, the flight was diverted to Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport by the flight assistant, a process that took approximately thirty minutes. Tragically, upon landing, first responders pronounced Captain Andaur deceased.
With an impressive 25-year piloting career, Captain Andaur was a respected veteran in the field of aviation.
The flight in question, designated as LA505, was being operated using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The flight had both a relief captain and a first officer on board when this unfortunate incident occurred, departing from Miami at 10:11 pm on Monday, August 14th.
A statement from LATAM Airlines Group reads;
“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.
“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 commitment. During the flight, all the necessary safety protocols were carried out to safeguard the life of the affected pilot.”