FAs Rushed To Cockpit When Both Pilots Got Lightheaded

The UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch is looking into an unusual incident aboard a British Airways A321 last month. Both pilots reportedly became suddenly "unwell" and light-headed, and issued a panicked-sounding call on the PA for the senior flight attendant to come to the cockpit. The flight, which had departed London Heathrow for Glasgow, was 20 minutes out when it turned back as a precaution.

The account of the call on the PA system was posted on an aviation website last month, which brought it to the attention of the media. The London Daily Mail reports that with the attendants' help, "the captain and first officer had to put on oxygen masks as the aircraft, which had just taken off from Heathrow, was climbing at 20,000 feet."

The Telegraph of London quotes an airline spokesman as explaining, "The pilots reported feeling light headed so, as a precaution and following normal procedure, put on their oxygen masks. Our pilots are highly trained to deal with such circumstances. The aircraft landed safely and customers continued their journey after a short delay."

FMI: Original Passenger Account