3 Nov 20255:41 reconstruction471 views

Ryanair Pilot Loses consciousness on Final Approach. Ryanair captain lands Boeing 737 solo

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Ryanair First Officer Becomes Incapacitated During Final Approach

On November 3, 2025, Ryanair flight FR2682 was descending toward Cluj-Napoca when a routine arrival became a medical emergency in the cockpit. The Boeing 737-800, registered EI-DPJ, was operating from Bergamo Orio al Serio in Italy to Cluj-Napoca in Romania. During the descent, the captain reported that the first officer had become unwell. The situation then progressed to incapacitation, requiring the captain to continue the approach alone.

The Emergency Call

Contemporary reporting based on the ATC communications says the captain initially declared PAN-PAN and reported the first officer was incapacitated. As the condition worsened, the emergency was upgraded to MAYDAY. The captain requested medical assistance for the arrival. The escalation is significant because it reflects a change from an urgent medical problem to the loss of one of the two operating flight crew members.

Runway 25 Was Kept Available

The aircraft landed safely on Runway 25 at Cluj-Napoca International Airport. Airportia, citing The Aviation Herald, reported that emergency services were waiting for the aircraft. After touchdown, the aircraft stopped on the runway and the engines were shut down. The first officer was taken to hospital. About 50 minutes later the aircraft was towed to the apron.

The Flight After the Emergency

The occurrence aircraft did not immediately return to service. Contemporary reporting says it remained on the ground in Cluj for roughly 17 hours before positioning to Bucharest. A replacement Boeing 737-800 was dispatched to operate the return flight, producing a delay of about three hours. The operational response therefore continued well beyond the landing itself.

A Cockpit Emergency With One Pilot Remaining

The sources do not establish the first officer’s medical diagnosis, and no diagnosis is assigned here. What is established is the sequence: illness was reported during descent, the condition progressed to unconsciousness, the captain declared the appropriate higher-level emergency, and the aircraft landed safely with medical personnel ready. The record also confirms that the aircraft was handled normally on the ground after the emergency landing.

The contemporary incident report summarized the outcome: The aircraft landed safely on Cluj’s runway 25. The statement is important because the emergency developed during the approach itself, yet the remaining flight crew member completed the landing and brought the aircraft to a controlled stop.

Accident Facts

Date
November 3, 2025
Aircraft
Boeing 737-800
Registration
EI-DPJ
Event
Ryanair First Officer Becomes Incapacitated During Final Approach
Category
Incident / Emergency
Timeline
November 3, 2025 —
FR2682 operated from Bergamo to Cluj-Napoca.
1.
During descent —
The captain reported that the first officer was feeling unwell.
2.
During the approach —
The first officer became incapacitated and the captain upgraded the emergency to MAYDAY.
3.
Arrival —
FR2682 landed safely on Runway 25 and stopped on the runway.
4.
About 50 minutes after landing —
The aircraft was towed to the apron.
5.
Later —
A replacement aircraft operated the return flight; EI-DPJ remained grounded before repositioning to Bucharest.
6.

Sources

Audio from the original air traffic control recording, sourced from public recordings and released investigation records. The reconstruction, animation and written account are our own.
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