Ivan Andaur, a pilot for LATAM Airlines, died on a flight from Miami to Santiago, Chile, on Aug. 15, 2023. (Facebook)
(Tribune News Service) — A pilot died early Tuesday morning in the middle of an international flight from Miami, forcing the plane to be diverted.
About three hours into a scheduled LATAM Airlines flight to Santiago, Chile, captain Ivan Andaur began feeling unwell and exited the cockpit of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, according to Simple Flying.
The flight was immediately diverted to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City but Andaur collapsed in one of the plane’s bathrooms before they could land.
Crew members began providing emergency medical assistance to the pilot, but were unable to revive him. The plane touched down in Panama City about 30 minutes after the ordeal began and responders pronounced Andaur dead on the scene.
None of the 271 passengers onboard the plane required assistance.
“We are deeply moved by what has happened, and we extend our sincere condolences to the family of our employee,” LATAM said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for his 25-year career and his valuable contribution, which was always distinguished by his professionalism and dedication.”
The flight took off again for Santiago several hours later and landed about 24 hours after leaving Miami.
A similar incident occurred earlier this year on a Las Vegas-to-Columbus, Ohio flight. About two hours after taking off from Harry Reid International Airport, a Southwest Airlines flight turned back after the pilot became incapacitated. While a nurse onboard treated the pilot, an off-duty pilot from another airline stepped in and assisted the crew during the return to Las Vegas.
Pilots on commercial flights very rarely are deemed incapacitated. According to a 2012 research study, only about 0.25% of pilots become incapacitated, with older pilots posing a higher risk.
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