RECIFE— A transatlantic flight operated by Azul Linhas Aéreas (AD) was diverted to Recife (REC) after a pilot onboard became medically incapacitated. The flight, AD8803, was en route from Porto (OPO), Portugal, to Campinas (VCP), Brazil, when the crew initiated the diversion over the Atlantic Ocean on July 25, 2025.
The Airbus A330-900 (registration PR-ANX) made a safe landing at Recife’s runway 18, where medical personnel were on standby to attend to the affected pilot.
Photo: FlightRadar24Azul A330 Pilot Incapacitated
Flight AD8803 had already crossed much of the Atlantic at cruising altitude FL380 on July 25, 2025, when the crew declared a medical emergency due to a pilot’s incapacitation.
The aircraft was nearing the northeastern coast of Brazil when it was rerouted to Recife (REC), a logical alternate airport with proper medical and operational facilities.
According to Azul Linhas Aéreas (AD), the diversion was executed in compliance with standard safety protocols. The airline confirmed the reason for the unscheduled landing was to obtain immediate medical assistance for one of the crew members, according to The Aviation Herald.
Photo: By JTOcchialini – https://www.flickr.com/photos/jtocchialini/15839631367/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37301897Timeline and Aircraft Details
The Airbus A330-941neo (registration PR-ANX) touched down safely at Recife approximately 9 hours and 44 minutes after departure from Porto (OPO). It remained on the ground for about 105 minutes while the situation was addressed and the aircraft was prepared for continuation of its journey.
Following this brief ground time, the aircraft resumed its flight to São Paulo–Campinas International Airport (VCP), arriving with a total delay of approximately 3 hours.
Azul Airlines managed the situation efficiently, minimizing disruption for passengers. The flight resumed with the remaining flight crew, in accordance with regulatory standards requiring a minimum of two qualified pilots for long-haul operations. There were no reports of injuries or medical issues among passengers.
The airline has not disclosed the exact medical condition of the affected pilot, but confirmed they received appropriate medical attention upon landing.
The Airbus A330-900neo, part of Azul’s wide-body long-haul fleet, is equipped for transatlantic operations and regularly services routes between Brazil and Europe.
The specific aircraft involved, registered as PR-ANX, was performing a scheduled passenger service covering approximately 8,147 kilometers between Porto (OPO) and Campinas (VCP).
Photo: Clément AlloingSimilar Incident
A United Airlines (UA) flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) made an emergency diversion to Dublin Airport (DUB) on April 15, 2025, following the in-flight incapacitation of a relief pilot.
The Boeing 777-200ER operating United Airlines flight UA71 was cruising over Scotland when the crew initiated emergency protocols due to a medical issue involving a pilot.
Emergency Diversion Over the North Atlantic
Flight UA71, operated by United Airlines (UA), departed Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) at 07:23 UTC bound for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
Roughly one hour after departure, the aircraft, carrying three pilots, encountered an in-flight emergency when the third pilot—serving as relief crew—began experiencing chest pains.
At the time, the aircraft was cruising at 36,000 feet over northern Scotland. In response, the flight crew entered a holding pattern at 08:29 UTC to assess the situation.
Although the aircraft continued westward, intending to proceed toward its destination, conditions deteriorated. About an hour later, the crew declared a medical emergency and initiated a diversion.
The decision was made to divert to Dublin Airport (DUB), which offered the nearest major airport with sufficient medical response capabilities. The aircraft, a 26.4-year-old Boeing 777-200ER registered N78005, performed a U-turn at 09:49 UTC and landed in Dublin at 11:25 UTC.
Photo: By tjdarmstadt – IMG_0388.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61530146Operational and Safety Considerations
Due to the aircraft being heavily fueled for a transatlantic crossing, the crew opted for a heavy landing configuration at Dublin Airport. Such landings are standard procedure when a quick diversion is required before fuel can be jettisoned or sufficiently burned off.
No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew, aside from the medical issue with the third pilot. Emergency medical teams met the aircraft on arrival, and the affected crew member was transported for further treatment.
United Airlines typically operates daily Boeing 777 services between Amsterdam (AMS) and Newark (EWR). This incident involved aircraft N78005, which has been in service for over 26 years.
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