MUNICH- On December 15, 2024, a Luxair (LG) flight from Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) to Luxembourg (LUX) had to make an emergency landing at Munich Airport (MUC) due to a sick pilot on board.
According to the current timetable, Luxair runs two weekly flights between Luxembourg and Dubai.
Luxair Flight Emergency Landing
According to FlightRadar24, Luxair aircraft LG9010 took off from Al Maktoum International Airport at 6:26 AM UTC. After being flying for more than six hours, the crew declared an emergency.
The incident occurred as the airplane was cruising at FL380, some 50 nautical miles southeast of Munich. The crew decided to land, and the aircraft successfully landed on runway 26R in Munich around 30 minutes later.
According to Aviation Herald, the diversion was initiated by the first officer’s sudden illness, which prevented them from continuing their duties. The captain and cabin crew alerted passengers about the situation and planned the emergency landing.
A replacement crew was sent to Munich on the next planned Luxair flight to restart operations. The plane was stopped in Munich for about 7 and 50 hours before departing and arriving in Luxembourg.
The flight was carried out by a 6.2-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 (737-8) registered as LX-LBL.
Similar Incident
After one of the operating pilots became incapacitated in the middle of a domestic flight, an off-duty Air Canada pilot oversaw its safe landing. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) stated that the incident occurred on June 7, 2023, while traveling 2,115 kilometers from Toronto to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
While en way, the first officer had a medical problem, resulting in a serious scenario in cockpit. A deadheading captain—a pilot on the aircraft to report for a new assignment—immediately stepped in to take over the disabled crew member’s duties.
The off-duty pilot successfully guided the aircraft to a safe landing while assuring the safety of all passengers and crew.
Although the TSB did not specify the aircraft type, Air Canada’s website says that the route is frequently flown by the Airbus A220, a modern twin-engine jet with a seating capacity of around 140 passengers.