Heart-stopping moment Delta pilot tells air traffic control he is sick as packed Boston-bound jet is forced to divert: ‘This is the captain. I am the one who is ill’
A Delta flight from Los Angeles to Boston diverted safely to Detroit after its captain became unwell during the journey and requested hospital treatment. The incident highlights standard aviation safety procedures, under which the first officer can continue flying while the other pilot communicates with air traffic control and the aircraft diverts to a suitable airport.
Flight DL437 left Los Angeles at 10.45am on Tuesday with 147 people on board and was over Michigan when the diversion was announced. Air traffic control audio captured the captain saying he was ill and needed to go to hospital; Delta confirmed the diversion followed a crew illness, but gave no update on his condition. A replacement crew completed the journey to Boston, where the aircraft arrived about 90 minutes late.
- Delta flight diverted after its captain became ill.
- The aircraft landed safely in Detroit.
- Replacement crew flew passengers on to Boston.