Self-medication incapacitated pilot during flight!

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jun 15 2017 | 2:57 PM IST
Did self-medication lead to incapacitation of a pilot-in-command at the time of landing?
Probably, the side effect of a medicine -- taken without any prescription or after consultation with doctor -- incapacitated the pilot, according to an investigation report into an incident involving a SpiceJet flight three years ago.
The incident pertains to a SpiceJet flight from Mumbai to Hyderabad that was carrying 150 people, including six crew members.
At the time of landing in Hyderabad, a medical emergency was declared due to incapacitation of the pilot-in-command. The flight landed safely and there was no injury to the people on board or damage to the aircraft.
After a detailed probe, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has concluded that self medication by the pilot concerned was the reason for his incapacitation.
AAIB, which mainly probes serious incidents involving aircraft in the Indian airspace, has also made certain safety recommendations to aviation regulator DGCA.
"The most probable cause of the PIC (pilot-in-command) getting incapacitated was due to side-effect of a pain killer which was taken by the PIC without any prescription or consultation by a doctor," the report, which has just been made public by the DGCA, said.
The investigation report, dated February 1, 2017, has been made public. The incident happened on January 8, 2014.
On the day of the flight, the report said the pilot-in- command woke up with a neck pain and did the pre-flight medical check, but did not inform the doctor regarding the neck pain.
During the flight, the pilot experienced pain in the neck and consumed a pain killer medicine in flight to subside the pain, the report said.
While the flight was on descent, the pilot "experienced partial loss of hearing and a blurred vision and decided to take an anti-allergic tablet to counter the presumed reaction of the pain killer medicine", it added.
AAIB has recommended that the DGCA should "sensitise all the scheduled operators and non-scheduled operators with a circular directing all operators to educate their flight crew and cabin crew of the consequences of self-medication and also the importance of communicating any ailments to the company doctor during the pre-flight medical".
Besides, the regulator has been asked to issue instructions to all scheduled operators to sensitise flight crew through recurrent training on the importance of procedures in the case of flight crew incapacitation.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 15 2017 | 2:57 PM IST

Next Story