United flight to San Francisco diverted after co-pilot passes out

A flight from Houston to San Francisco had to be diverted to New Mexico after the co-pilot passed out Tuesday.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A United Airlines flight carrying nearly 200 people from Houston to San Francisco had to divert to Albuquerque, New Mexico, after the co-pilot passed out Tuesday.

Air-traffic controllers got word shortly after 8 a.m. that the plane would be landing after the first officer, who is second in command, had a medical episode, Albuquerque airport spokesman Dan Jiron said. The plane landed without incident around 8:20 a.m.

The co-pilot regained consciousness and was able to walk off the plane to be transported to a local hospital, Jiron said. He had no details about the co-pilot's condition or what may have caused the episode.

An airline spokeswoman said 177 passengers and 10 crew members were aboard the plane. United did not release any details about the co-pilot.

The diversion comes a day after an American Airlines captain became gravely ill while flying from Phoenix to Boston. He later died.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.
Send a letter to the editor