WASHINGTON — An American Eagle flight was forced to make an urgent diversion and emergency landing at Washington Dulles International Airport late Thursday evening after a flight attendant experienced an incapacitating medical emergency mid-air.
The incident involved American Eagle Flight 5078, operated by PSA Airlines, using a Bombardier CRJ700 regional aircraft registered as N533AE.
The flight was originally scheduled to depart Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for Tallahassee, Florida, but faced initial ground delays. The aircraft finally lifted off at 10:50 PM EDT, running more than two hours behind schedule.
Shortly after takeoff, as the regional jet was ascending toward its planned cruising altitude, the flight crew abruptly stopped the climb at 22,000 feet. The pilots made urgent contact with air traffic control to report that a flight attendant on board had fallen severely ill and was completely unable to perform their safety duties.
Recognizing the severity of the situation and the immediate need for medical assistance, the pilots declared an emergency and requested an immediate diversion to nearby Washington Dulles International Airport. Controllers quickly vectored the aircraft into a U-turn toward Dulles.
Just 46 minutes after taking off from Reagan National, the Bombardier CRJ700 landed safely on Runway 1R at Dulles International Airport. The aircraft taxied directly to Gate B71, where emergency medical responders were standing by to assist the incapacitated crew member.
Federal aviation regulations strictly require a fully functioning flight crew to maintain cabin safety standards during flight. When a crew member becomes medically unfit to perform their duties, standard procedure dictates landing at the nearest suitable airport as quickly as possible.
No other injuries were reported among the remaining crew members or passengers. Further details regarding the condition of the flight attendant have not yet been released.
