A Regional CAE Embraer ERJ-170 on behalf of Air France, registration F-HBXL performing flight AF-1325 from Bremen (Germany) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France), was climbing through FL100 out of Bremen when the crew stopped the climb at about FL107 due to one of the pilots becoming incapacitated. The aircraft returned to Bremen for a safe landing about 15 minutes after departure. The incapacitated pilot was taken to a hospital.
A passenger reported that they were climbing out of Bremen when the crew announced they needed to return to Bremen due to a medical emergency. The passenger was puzzled as there was no fellow passenger around with any signs of feeling unwell. After landing paramedics came on board and headed for the cockpit. Soon after the paramedics returned supporting a pilot (the passenger was unable to identify whether captain or first officer), who was able to walk himself with the support, and helped the pilot to an ambulance, which drove away. Later it transpired the pilot had suffered a heart attack.
The flight was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft was able to resume service about 8 hours later.
On Jul 13th 2016 the French BEA reported the first officer radioed ATC about the captain being incapacitated and returned the aircraft to Bremen. The captain was taken to a hospital. Germany’s BFU rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation.
The Aviation Herald
Captain suffers heart attack onboard a HOP! For Air France (operated by Régional) E-170LR
