Pilot Incapacitation - Ryanair Flight RK-8528 (STN-OZZ) from London Stansted, UK, to Ouarzazate, Morocco, on Dec.5, 2023 - pilot felt unwell, crew diverted to Faro, Portugal, landed safely 30 min

Incident: Ryanair UK B738 near Faro on Dec 5th 2023, pilot unwell

By Simon Hradecky, created Tuesday, Dec 5th 2023 20:28Z, last updated Tuesday, Dec 5th 2023 20:28Z

A Ryanair UK Boeing 737-800, registration G-RUKI performing flight RK-8528 from London Stansted,EN (UK) to Ouarzazate (Morocco), was enroute at FL410 about 120nm south of Faro (Portugal) when one of the pilots felt unwell prompting the crew to decide to divert to Faro, where the aircraft landed on runway 10 about 30 minutes later.

A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration EI-EBC positioned from Porto (Portugal) to Faro, resumed the flight and delivered the passengers to Ouarzazate with a delay of about 3 hours.

The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Faro due to one of the pilots feeling ill, there was no emergency.

The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Faro about 11 hours after landing.

This is the 5th pilot incapacitation in 3 weeks!

Pilot incapacitations & deaths in Aug-Nov 2023: