A LATAM pilot died after experiencing a medical emergency midair on August 14, 2023. Captain Ivan Andaur was on a flight from Miami to Santiago, Chile. He was one of three members of the pilot crew, and the airline flight made an emergency landing at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama so that the pilot could receive medical attention. According to a statement released by the airline, their attempts to assist the pilot in his medical emergency did not work, and he died.
"All the necessary protocols were followed during the flight to safeguard the life of the affected pilot," the statement said. "Unfortunately, after landing and receiving further medical assistance, the pilot passed away."
The pilot had worked for the airline for 25 years. The airline shared that it was "deeply saddened by this event" and expressed its "most sincere condolences to the family" of the pilot.
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Passengers aboard the plane applauded staff members upon the plane landing safely. They also applauded them again in the airport. "There’s a lot that goes on in preparation for these abnormal circumstances to protect passengers," Capt. John Cox, an NBC News aviation analyst, explained. "And as a passenger, that’s probably one thing we can rest assured of and take in comfort, when we do experience something like this."
