On 19 May 2016, fire broke out on board an Airbus A320 en route to Cairo at night. The fire spread rapidly from the forward area of the aircraft and rapidly intensified. Loss of control due to conditions on the flight deck resulted in descent and sea impact with all 66 occupants killed. Work for the Investigation (reproduced in the final report) which identified a leak from the flight crew emergency oxygen system as the fire source was eventually discounted. It was concluded that the origin was activation of explosive materials in the forward galley just behind the flight deck.

On 19 October 2022, an Embraer E175-200 had just departed Dublin when the first officer, who was acting as Pilot Flying, became incapacitated. The captain immediately took over all flying duties, requested assistance for the first officer from the cabin crew, and declared a MAYDAY. The aircraft then returned to land without further significant event although a bird strike occurred on approach. The 35-year-old first officer was medically assessed, and the conclusion was that he had “low blood pressure (and) a possible lack of water and food” which would have been exacerbated by the rising cabin altitude after departure.

On 19 October 2022, an Embraer E175-200 had just departed Dublin when the first officer, who was acting as Pilot Flying, became incapacitated. The captain immediately took over all flying duties, requested assistance for the first officer from the cabin crew, and declared a MAYDAY. The aircraft then returned to land without further significant event although a bird strike occurred on approach. The 35-year-old first officer was medically assessed, and the conclusion was that he had “low blood pressure (and) a possible lack of water and food” which would have been exacerbated by the rising cabin altitude after departure.

On 6 June 2023, a Boeing 717-200 was on base leg about 10 nm from Hobart, Australia, when chlorine fumes became evident on the flight deck. As the aircraft became fully established on final approach, the captain recognised signs of cognitive impairment and handed control to the initially unaffected first officer. Just before touchdown, the first officer was similarly affected but was able to safely complete the landing and taxi in. The same aircraft had experienced a similar event two days earlier with no fault found. The Investigation determined that the operator’s procedures for responding to crew incapacitation in flight had been inadequate.

On 6 June 2023, a Boeing 717-200 was on base leg about 10 nm from Hobart, Australia, when chlorine fumes became evident on the flight deck. As the aircraft became fully established on final approach, the captain recognised signs of cognitive impairment and handed control to the initially unaffected first officer. Just before touchdown, the first officer was similarly affected but was able to safely complete the landing and taxi in. The same aircraft had experienced a similar event two days earlier with no fault found. The Investigation determined that the operator’s procedures for responding to crew incapacitation in flight had been inadequate.