Detroit, United States: A Delta Air Lines Connection flight operating from Madison, Wisconsin, to Detroit, Michigan, declared a medical emergency after the co-pilot briefly lost consciousness during the aircraft’s approach and landing phase, according to airline statements and air traffic control (ATC) communications.
The incident occurred on May 23, 2026, aboard a flight operated by Endeavor Air, a wholly owned regional subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. The aircraft departed from Dane County Regional Airport and was arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport when the emergency unfolded.
According to ATC audio, the captain informed controllers that the first officer had become incapacitated during the approach. In the transmission, the captain stated: “Declaring a medical emergency, my first officer’s incapacitated.” Air traffic controllers subsequently cleared the aircraft for priority landing.
The aircraft landed safely in Detroit without further incident. Delta confirmed that paramedics met the flight after it taxied to the gate and that the first officer had regained consciousness by the time emergency personnel boarded the aircraft. The co-pilot was then transported to a hospital for medical evaluation.
Flight tracking data indicated the flight completed the journey in approximately one hour and arrived around 20 minutes ahead of schedule despite the emergency declaration. No passengers or cabin crew members were reported injured during the incident.
In a statement, Delta said safety remained its highest priority and praised the crew’s handling of the situation. The airline stated that the professionalism of the Endeavor Air crew and the response of emergency personnel helped ensure the flight concluded safely.
The airline did not disclose the medical cause behind the co-pilot’s temporary loss of consciousness. There was also no indication of any technical or mechanical issue involving the aircraft itself.
The incident also came days after another unrelated pilot medical emergency involving a Jet2.com flight traveling from Tenerife, Spain, to Birmingham, United Kingdom, which diverted to Porto, Portugal, after one of the pilots reportedly became unwell mid-flight.
