Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Diverts to Montreal After Captain Becomes Incapacitated

A Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 operating flight LH463 from Miami to Frankfurt was forced to make an emergency landing in Montreal after the captain became incapacitated mid-flight.

The incident occurred on January 19, 2025, though the full details have only recently emerged. Flight LH463, Lufthansa’s daily service from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Frankfurt-Main Airport, was being operated by a Boeing 747-8, registration D-ABYF, part of the airline’s fleet of 19 such aircraft.

The aircraft departed Miami at 17:23 local time for its scheduled eight-hour journey to Frankfurt. It proceeded along the eastern seaboard of the United States towards St. Johns, Newfoundland, where it was set to begin its overnight transatlantic crossing. Approximately 3.5 hours into the flight, while cruising at 35,000 feet (10,668 meters) over Newfoundland, the crew reported to Canadian air traffic controllers that the captain had become incapacitated.

Following a brief consultation, it was decided that the aircraft would divert to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The first officer, along with another Lufthansa pilot from the relief crew, took control of the aircraft. The plane turned southwest, dumping excess fuel en route to Montreal.

The Canadian Transport Safety Board (TSB) confirmed that the captain fell ill while in the crew rest area. The senior first officer assumed command, and the first officer was called to the cockpit. Meanwhile, two flight attendants provided first aid to the captain as the aircraft descended towards Montreal.

The Boeing 747-8 landed safely in Montreal approximately 5.5 hours after its departure from Miami. Passengers were deplaned and accommodated on alternative flights to reach their final destination.

As of now, neither Lufthansa nor Canadian authorities have issued updates on the captain’s medical condition. The aircraft remained in Montreal for 48 hours before departing on January 21, 2025, as flight LH9871, ferrying back to Frankfurt. The following day, it was dispatched to Xiamen, China, for a routine heavy maintenance check, where it remains at the time of writing.

• Featured image by TJDarmstadt

Youssef Yahya

Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’

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