Pilot Dies Midair in Plane’s Toilet, 271 Lives Saved by Co-Pilots making Emergency Landing

Captain Andaur, the pilot of a Miami to Chile LATAM Airlines flight with 271 passengers onboard, suddenly collapsed in the bathroom of the plane.

The co-pilot of the plane swiftly diverted the flight to Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport for an emergency landing to save lives of people onboard. Although the crew administered emergency treatment to Captain Andaur, he was declared dead upon landing.

This incident occurred on August 14.

LATAM Airlines Group released a statement stating, “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.”

Following the incident, the flight resumed its journey from Panama City to Chile on August 15.

A similar incident occurred in March when a Southwest Airlines flight had to return to Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport as a pilot became ill shortly after takeoff. An off-duty pilot on board as a passenger aided with radio communications as the flight made its way back to Las Vegas.