Ill co-pilot sparks emergency

AN EMERGENCY was declared at Sumburgh Airport on Thursday evening when the co-pilot on an incoming Loganair plane with 19 people on board became “extremely unwell”.

Emergency services including three fire appliances and the Lerwick and Aith lifeboats were dispatched, as is procedure, when the call came in from the Saab 340 just before 7pm.

The plane, which was flying from Kirkwall, landed safely and emergency services were stood down soon around fifteen minutes later.

A spokesman for Loganair said: “Flight BE6939 was enroute from Kirkwall to Sumburgh carrying 16 passengers and three crew. The captain of the Saab 340 aircraft declared a PAN call-sign after the first officer became extremely unwell but proceeded to land safely in Sumburgh Airport – met by emergency services as is procedure in these situations.

“Loganair’s pilots and crew are extensively trained to deal with this type of scenario and the captain landed the aircraft safely and ahead of schedule.”