KL934 - Report: KLM Cityhopper E175 at Dublin on Oct 19th 2022

A KLM Cityhopper Embraer ERJ-175, registration PH-EXI performing flight KL-934 from Dublin (Ireland) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was climbing out of Dublin's runway 10R when the aircraft stopped the climb at FL120 due to the first officer becoming incapacitated. The captain returned the aircraft to Dublin for an approach to runway 10R. On short final the aircraft sustained a bird strike, but landed safely about 20 minutes after departure.

Ireland's AAIU released their final factual report without conclusions but this comment:

The incapacitation of the First Officer occurred with minimal warning shortly after take-off, which is a phase of flight that involves a high workload for the flight crew. In this case, the Commander acted quickly and utilised the assistance of a CA in dealing with the situation; this included securing the First Officer in his seat, moving his seat rearwards away from the controls, and administering oxygen. The Commander also delegated, to a CA, the task of keeping the passengers informed of the situation.

Due to the passenger capacity of the aircraft, only two CAs were required to be on board.

Having a CA seated in the cockpit to render assistance if needed and monitor an incapacitated flight crew member could be helpful in cases such as the subject event. However, there is also a requirement for the aircraft’s exits to be manned during landing. The Operator’s OMA prescribes the actions to be taken in the event of a pilot incapacitation. Instruction regarding whether a CA should remain on the flight deck or return to their station before landing is not included. The OMA states that the procedure ‘should be regarded as general guidance and adapted as circumstances dictate’.

The instructions provided by ATC facilitated an expeditious return to Dublin. The bird strike that occurred on final approach, did not cause any further problems, although it had the potential to significantly further increase the workload for the remaining crew member.

The AAIU summarized the sequence of events:

The Embraer E175 aircraft departed from Runway (RWY) 10R at EIDW at 08:22 hrs for Amsterdam. Approximately three minutes after take-off, when the aircraft was at FL100 and in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), the First Officer (FO), who was the Pilot Flying (PF), indicated to the Commander that he was not feeling well, before collapsing in his seat.

The autopilot was engaged at the time. The Commander stated that he immediately requested assistance from the Cabin Attendants (CA) by means of the emergency call button and by knocking on the cockpit door, and asked a CA to attend to the FO, while he focused on flying the aircraft. The CA secured the FO to his (the FO’s) seat with the seat harness and moved the FO’s seat rearwards, away from the flight controls. The FO regained consciousness, but the Commander determined that the FO, while stable, was unable to be part of an active cockpit crew. The CAs assisted the FO to don his crew oxygen mask. The Commander reported that the oxygen flow was selected to 100% and EMER (emergency setting).

The Commander transmitted a MAYDAY call to ATC, advising that the First Officer was incapacitated, that the aircraft needed to return to Dublin, and that medical assistance was required on arrival. ATC facilitated an expeditious return and prioritised the aircraft as necessary. The Commander reported that he briefed himself for the approach and completed the necessary checklists. On the Commander’s instruction, one of the CAs, using the Public Address (PA) system, informed the passengers that the aircraft had to return to Dublin and that the Commander would brief them further on landing. At approximately 1,000 feet (ft) on the approach, the Commander instructed the CAs to return to their stations. At around 100 ft, the aircraft encountered a flock of birds and sustained a bird strike to the left side of the nose section.

The Commander reported that the weather deteriorated but was ‘still sufficient for a CAT 1 approach’. The aircraft landed on RWY 10R at EIDW at 08:40 hrs. The aircraft taxied behind a ‘Follow Me’ vehicle to its parking stand, where a waiting ambulance crew assessed the FO. The passengers disembarked the aircraft normally.

The AAIU also reported:

The Commander reported that following arrival on stand in Dublin, the waiting ambulance crew examined the FO, and the assessment of the cause of the incapacitation was that the FO had low blood pressure, a possible lack of water and food, in combination with a rising cabin altitude after departure.
Related Flight: KL934, KLM News