Air Canada passengers started ‘praying’ after pilot’s medical emergency caused plane to swerve midair

Passengers aboard an Air Canada flight reportedly helped restrain a pilot who experienced a midair medical emergency Wednesday that resulted in the plane diverting to Boston.

The incident occurred on Flight AC7664, a regional service operated by PAL Airlines, which was carrying 61 passengers and had departed from Newark Liberty International Airport and was en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The captain appeared to be suffering a seizure, passenger Rodney McDonald, who was traveling with his sons, told ABC News, as the plane suddenly swerved midflight.

"The moment the plane swerved, I knew something was wrong because it was not turbulence," McDonald told the outlet. “It really felt like someone had jilted the controls and then it happened over and over again. And, you know, every thought goes through your mind, you start praying. My boys instantly started praying."

"One of the flight attendants entered the cockpit frantically, and a few moments later, he was dragging one of the pilots out of the cockpit onto the aisle way of the airplane," he added.

McDonald said he and four others helped restrain the captain while the first officer took over the flight and safely diverted it to Boston, where it landed without incident at 1:37 p.m. local time.

"[We] worked to get him under control, it was a fairly strenuous 40 minutes of keeping him down and using as many seatbelts as we could to restrain his legs arms and chest,” McDonald said.

Emergency crews met the aircraft on arrival, and a patient was taken by stretcher to an ambulance and transported to Mass General Hospital, according to CBS News. The captain’s condition has not been released.

The CDC advises against restraining someone who may be having a seizure or trying to stop their movements, as doing so can increase the risk of injury. Bystanders are instead recommended to stay calm, remain with the person and remove nearby objects that could cause injury.

McDonald told ABC News that a registered nurse helped assist the pilot and guide passengers, and he also praised the flight attendants for staying calm during the incident.

Air Canada has not yet confirmed the type of medical emergency the captain experienced, but told WCVB in a statement, “During the flight, the captain experienced a medical issue and was removed from the flight deck as per safety protocols. The first officer took control of the aircraft and diverted the flight to Boston, where it landed safely.”

The Independent has contacted Air Canada for comment.