KLM flight diverted to St. John’s after pilot falls ill

A Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) flight was diverted to St. John’s International Airport Saturday evening on its way from Amsterdam to New York City after the pilot needed immediate medical attention.

According to a tweet from the airline, flight KL643’s revised itinerary was to leave St. John’s at 5:35 p.m. NT Sunday and arrive in New York City at 7:05 p.m. ET, just a day behind schedule.

Amsterdam city broadcaster AT5 reported Sunday that the flight was diverted Saturday after the pilot of the Boeing 747-400 fell ill and was taken to hospital in St. John’s.

A doctor aboard the flight said the pilot was in need of medical attention that wasn’t possible on the plane, and had to be taken to hospital. A spokesperson from KLM said the pilot was in stable condition.

The 263 passengers, as well as crew members, were put up in a local hotel, AT5 reported, as a new Royal Dutch Airlines crew was delayed arriving from New York due to poor weather conditions.

Jeremy Eaton