During cruise, the first officer reported feeling ill and was unable to continue their duties. One of the passengers on board was a Westjet pilot who was able to assume the first officer's duties. The incapacitated first officer sat in the cabin for the remainder of the flight. The flight crew did not declare an emergency or request a priority handling. The aircraft landed without further incident.
If a pilot is taken ill, airlines normally declare an emergency and land the plane as soon as possible. Retired US pilots Kent Davis and Mark Stephens previously told Business Insider that it is 'not a big deal' when pilots become unwell during a flight because they are trained to handle these situations.
Stephens said there are at least two pilots on domestic flights, while international flights can have two pilots and two captains. Therefore, it provides a safety net to ensure the aircraft is managed appropriately, even if one pilot becomes incapacitated.
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