Flight crew incapacitation on the rise: Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Pattern coincides with start of covid injection mandates
Note the drop in flight crew incapacitation reports during covid, followed by a sharp rise beginning in Q4 2021 (when the mandates took effect).
Also consider that air traffic in 2021 and 2022 was significantly lower than it was pre-covid. 2023 air traffic figures not released yet.
141 reports were provided by TSB Canada. One such report:
CYVR, Westjet Encore, DHC-8-402, WEN3630, C-FTEN, crew incapacitation
9 July 2023
C-FTEN, a De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8-402 (Dash 8 Q400), operated by Westjet Encore, was conducting flight WEN3630 from Calgary International (CYYC), AB, to Portland International (KPDX), OR with 4 crew and 78 passengers on board. Approximately 25 minutes after takeoff, the _____ [redacted under s. 19 of the ATIA, ‘personal information’] was reported to be unwell. The crew accomplished their company medical procedures and made the decision to divert to Vancouver International (CYVR), BC, and declared a PAN PAN with air traffic control. The flight continued without further incident. Emergency services met the aircraft at the gate and the affected crewmember was taken to hospital.
I've been watching the skies since 2016 & I've never seen anything like all the emergencies I see pretty much every damn day.
Very interesting. Thank you.