MAYDAY - Pilot in Distress

Standby I've got an emergency...

Just hours had passed in to the new year of 2020 when a British Airways captain called the control tower at London's Heathrow Airport with a MAYDAY emergency. The co-pilot had suddenly slumped over at the controls, his head was dropping forward - he was clearly not fully conscious. The captain immediately donned his oxygen mask, stated that he had control and made the decision to continue to land. ‘P2’ co-pilot was now fully unresponsive.*

It’s not a rare occurence - you just don’t hear about them too often - most of the time they are kept under wraps as best as they, the aviation industry, can manage.

Here’s yet another MAYDAY: Captain Tom O'Riordan @ToxicAer

As per Capt. O’Riordan’s statement, on June 5, 2023, he was exposed to toxic air while serving as the captain on an Aer Lingus flight. He believes that the exposure to toxic fumes, known to cause nervous system and brain injury and known throughout the industry as 'Aerotoxic Syndrome', is a significant threat during flights, and can happen anytime. Please read his own words:

”My life was irrevocably altered by exposure to toxic fumes on an Aer Lingus flight. This personal tragedy has opened my eyes to a larger, urgent public health issue that needs immediate attention. I am not alone in this suffering; there are others who have been similarly exposed and whose lives have been devastated as a result.”

Please support Captain Tom O’Riordan throughout his network, i.e., here on X and sign and share his petition to: ‘Bring Toxic Fume Poisoning on Aer Lingus Flights to Dail Eireann's Attention’ .

And another MAYDAY or PAN-PAN-PAN due to Toxic Fumes on board a British Airways A380 (ATC):

As Tom rightly says:
“We cannot allow more lives to be ruined due to inaction or ignorance.”

More info further down*:

We appeal to all pilots and cabin crew to demand a risk assessment from their employer via their workers’ unions on EDCs.
 
For more in-depth information about the reasons, the many chemicals found in the aircraft interior, science, the health consequences, as well as many personal testimonies and flight reports by aircrew at:  UNFILTERED .

Please also support our other PETITION, which is kept up to date by Trudie Dadd

Wishing you always Happy Landings!

* Source: BBC article Fume events: The toxic gases that may be harming aircrew and passengers by Mike Powell, February 2020