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What if There’s a Medical Emergency on an Airline Flight?

We take a look at risk mitigation from the pilot’s perspective.

You may have wondered what happens when there’s a medical emergency on a Part 121 flight—it’s not always a trigger for an immediate diversion and landing. [Photo: Julie Boatman]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Airlines equip flights with medical kits (basic and advanced, requiring professional use) and AEDs to stabilize passengers during in-flight emergencies.
  • The critical decision to divert a flight for a medical emergency is made by ground-based medical personnel (e.g., flight surgeons) in communication with the flight crew, not by the pilots.
  • Pilots are trained to manage the flight and facilitate communication during emergencies, splitting duties to handle the increased workload and mitigate risks.
  • Certain severe medical conditions, such as uncontrolled bleeding or the need for CPR, automatically trigger an immediate flight diversion.
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So, what happens when there is an in-flight medical emergency on an airline flight? 

It’s an interesting question that many of us have probably not thought much about before. But it happens, probably more frequently than we realize.

Jason Blair

Jason Blair is a flight instructor and an FAA designated pilot examiner, and an active author in the general aviation and flight training communities.

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