Spicejet B738 near Hyderabad on Jan 8th 2014, captain incapacitated

Last Update: June 15, 2017 / 15:28:18 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 8, 2014

Classification
Report

Cause
Captain incapacitated

Airline
Spicejet

Flight number
SG-401

Departure
Mumbai, India

Destination
Hyderabad, India

Aircraft Registration
VT-SZD

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

A Spicejet Boeing 737-800, registration VT-SZD performing flight SG-401 from Mumbai to Hyderabad (India) with 144 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute when the captain (36, ATPL, 2807 hours on type) experienced increasing neck pain and decided to take an "over the counter" pain killer, which reduced the pain. Later into the flight, already in the descent towards Hyderabd, the captain experienced partial loss of hearing and blurred vision. He instructed the first officer (26, CPL, 1627 hours on type) to take control of the aircraft and perform an auto-land into Hyderabad, inform ATC and request a doctor to meet the aircraft on arrival and request a tow tractor to tow the aircraft to the apron. The captain believed, his condition was an allergic reaction to the pain killer and decided to take an "over the counter" anti-allergic tablet, the captain's condition improved within 10 minutes. The first officer performed a safe auto-land into Hyderabad, ATC was informed the captain was incapacitated. After the aircraft had landed the captain's condition had improved sufficiently, that the captain took control and taxied the aircraft to the stand.

India's DGCA reported an airport doctor attended to the captain and confirmed the symptoms shown were an allergic reaction to the pain killer. The doctor issued a "fit to fly" certificate to the captain. The airline however instructed the captain to discontinue his schedule and insisted the captain should undergo a thorough medical examination before being rostered again.

The DGCA released their final report concluding the probable causes of the serious incident were:

The most probable cause of the PIC getting incapacitated was due to side effect of a pain killer which was taken by the PIC without any prescription / consultation by a doctor.

The DGCA analysed the testimony by the captain:

The PIC in his statement had stated that, on the day of occurrence he woke up early in the morning with neck pain. However, as the pain was reducing he decided to continue with his flight schedule and reported for duty.

He further stated that, in-flight due to repeated stretching of arms to operate controls and overhead panels the neck pain got aggravated. To get relief from neck pain he decided to take a pain killer from his flight bag in which he used to carry over the counter (OTC) medicine like pain killer and anti-allergic medicine. However, during descent into Hyderabad he experienced partial loss of hearing and a blurred vision. To counter the existing reaction of the pain killer he took an anti-allergic tablet, the symptoms improved after 10 min of taking antiallergic medicine.

Te DGCA summarized the results of the medical examination of the captain:

After the incidence, the PIC was taken off flying at Hyderabad and subjected to medical examination to ascertain into the cause of incapacitation. The PIC underwent all the medical tests including blood hemogram, blood biochemistry, urinalysis, TMT and X-ray cervical spine as directed by the CMO of M/s Spicejet. All the test results were found normal. The opinion of cardiologist and Orthopedic were taken and same were also reviewed by M/s Spicejet CMO. All tests were found to be normal. Subsequently on 11.01.2014, after three days the PIC was cleared to resume his flying duties by CMO with a condition that he will not take any self-medication and avoid any medicine at least 12 hrs prior to his flying schedule.

Further the DGCA class-I medical records of the PIC for last three years were also scrutinised and no such limitation or observation was recorded on his medical assessments. The PIC underwent his last Class-I renewal medical examination on 04/02/13, and was assessed fit by DGCA. After the incident of incapacitation, the PIC had undergone his renewal of class-I medical assessment at AFCME, New Delhi and the same was found to be satisfactory with no limitations.

The DGCA analysed that neither aircraft nor weather played any role in the occurrence.

The DGCA analysed the actions in case of inflight incapacitation:

In case of flight crew incapacitation, M/s Spicejet Operational manual defines the procedure wherein the other crew is advised to take over control and establish a safe flight path and engage the auto pilot whenever possible. With the assistance of other crew members/cabin crew, the incapacitated crew member should be restrained so that he does not interfere with essential controls. Also administer oxygen at 100% to revive the crew and move the incapacitated crew member out of cockpit area, if possible. Declare an emergency and inform ATC of the situation.

Further, flight/cabin crew to enquire if there is a medical doctor On-board for immediate assistance and do not allow the incapacitated crew member to take any further part in the conduct of the flight, even if he feels fully fit after the incapacitation.

If the PIC is incapacitated, the Co-Pilot shall land the aeroplane from the right seat. The operation manual also defines that in the event of incapacitation/death of the Commander, the order of succession in Command of the aircraft will be an Examiner/Instructor/Line Training Captain type rated on aircraft travelling as Accompanied Crew Member (ACM) in the aircraft. Then Line Captain rated on aircraft travelling as ACM, Trainee Captain rated as co-pilot travelling as ACM on aircraft shall occupy the left seat and the Co-Pilot shall occupy the right seat.

In this case the cabin crew was not informed about the PIC incapacitation by the first officer. Also the first officer did not call the cabin crew in the cockpit for assistance in removing the PIC from the controls as per the procedures outlined in their operations manual. The ATC was informed for medical assistance, however the emergency was not declared by the first officer this action prevented the ATC from alerting all the safety services to be ready in case of any emergency situation encountered during landing. The cabin in-charge was not aware of the situation hence the cabin could not be prepared for any emergency condition occurring post landing.

From the above it is inferred that the first officer actions were not in line with their own company approved procedures in case of flight crew incapacitation.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 8, 2014

Classification
Report

Cause
Captain incapacitated

Airline
Spicejet

Flight number
SG-401

Departure
Mumbai, India

Destination
Hyderabad, India

Aircraft Registration
VT-SZD

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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