Emirates Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Pilot ‘Fell Ill’ Over Atlantic

An Emirates flight scheduled from Milan to New York’s JFK had to make an emergency landing due to the First Officer feeling ‘unwell’ approximately an hour and a half after take-off.

The flight returned to its point of origin and made an emergency landing at Malpensa Airport.

Flight EK205 made a U-turn over the Atlantic Ocean and returned to Milan.

Initial reports said it was due to a “technical issue.”

Update: #EK205 returning to Milan due to a technical issue. https://t.co/EbXqehEowR

The aircraft is now scheduled to depart tomorrow as EK8205.

Today’s other EK A380 diversions were both weather related. pic.twitter.com/jH4FXDOi5j

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 13, 2023

However, an Italian report said the First Officer suffered an illness during the flight.

From Fanpage (translated):

It was the First Officer of Emirates flight 205 who fell ill less than two hours after take-off from Malpensa airport. With him was at least one other pilot capable of safely leading the plane and passengers to their destination, over the Atlantic Ocean.

However, the pilot’s health conditions worried the entire crew a lot and in any case, in everyone’s interest, it would have been safer to try to return as soon as possible, so that the aviator could have the necessary assistance.

So the aircraft decided to reverse course and, after notifying the control tower of the need to go back, landed again at the airport in the province of Varese. In fact, despite the sudden illness, the commander managed to carry out the landing maneuver without any problems for the passengers.

First Officer rescued at Malpensa

Once back on dry land, the captain was immediately rescued by the medical personnel present inside the airport. The officer had, in fact, communicated that the need to go back was determined by the need for urgent medical treatment.

Newsweek also reported on the incident:

A transatlantic flight from Milan to New York made an unexpected U-turn after one of the plane’s two pilots reportedly became ill.

According to a report from airlive.net, which was corroborated by Varese News, the Emirates Airlines flight EK205 traveling from Malpensa Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport turned around over the Atlantic after the pilot’s condition worsened.

The flight was just 1 hour and 30 minutes into its scheduled 7-hour trip when the decision was taken by the plane’s crew to return to Milan.

Dr. William Makis MD noted the Emirates flight is the 4th such incident this month.

Emirates Flight EK205 MXP-JFK from Milan diverted on March.13, 2023 due to pilot illness, returned to Milan for emergency landing – now 4th pilot incident this month! 😳

First Officer fell ill 1.5hr after take-off, plane returned, ambulance was waiting.https://t.co/TUz0AGSaia

— William Makis MD (@MakisMD) March 14, 2023

Further details on each incident below:

REPORTS: Pilot Suddenly Dies Just Before Scheduled Commercial Flight

FAA Quietly Changes Health Requirements For Pilots With Heart Damage, According to Steve Kirsch

REPORTS: Pilot Suddenly Dies Just Before Scheduled Commercial Flight