Air Canada Passengers Restrained 'Incapacitated' Pilot During Wild Flight After Plane 'Swerved'
It's like a nightmarish scene in a horror movie. A plane swerves because the pilot becomes incapacitated, so the passengers leap into action.
But it really happened on an Air Canada Flight. CNN even published a video showing the pilot leaving the plane on a stretcher.
"During the flight, the captain experienced a medical issue and was removed from the flight deck as per safety protocols," the airline said in a statement to CNN. "Pilots are trained to fly aircraft and land safely without the assistance of a second pilot." According to CNN, the flight was "Air Canada Flight 7664, traveling to Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Newark Liberty International Airport."
The First Officer 'Took Control' of the Air Canada Plane & the Passengers Sprang Into Action, Reports Say
According to ABC News, "The first officer took control of the aircraft and diverted the flight to Boston, where it landed safely." The incident occurred on June 25, 2026. The pilot was hospitalized and was receiving medical treatment, the network reported.
"The moment the plane swerved, I knew something was wrong because it was not turbulence," passenger Rodney McDonald told ABC News. "It really felt like someone had jilted the controls and then it happened over and over again. And, you know, every thought goes through your mind, you start praying. My boys instantly started praying."
He told ABC News that a flight attendant pulled a pilot into the aisle. "One of the flight attendants entered the cockpit frantically and a few moments later, he was dragging one of the pilots out of the cockpit onto the aisle way of the airplane," he told ABC News.
According to WCVB-TV, the plane managed to land safely in Boston. Massachusetts State Police "said airport officials were notified at about 1:37 p.m. that a pilot aboard the Air Canada flight was incapacitated," that station reported. The plane was carrying 61 passengers, according to the television station, and it was operated by PAL Airlines.
Added the station: "Massport Fire Rescue and Boston EMS crews could be seen surrounding the aircraft on the runway. The captain was taken for medical treatment in Boston." The station quoted an expert who noted that co-pilots are qualified to fly planes by themselves in such situations.
The Passenger Worried That the Pilot Was Having a Seizure
He believed the pilot was having a seizure, so McDonald and other passengers restrained him, according to ABC News, which noted that "those potentially experiencing a seizure should never be held down due to the risk of further injury."
The specific nature of the pilot's medical emergency was not released.
McDonald also told ABC: "Yeah, it was really horrifying. I was sitting in the front row, my family was from their back, just the way the seat arrangement worked out. And I went back to sit with them and then realized that the pilot was out of control physically, not violently, like it was clear that he was not in control of his faculties and needed to be restrained."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 2:23 AM.