An Air Canada Express flight from Newark International Airport (EWR) to Halifax, Nova Scotia, diverted to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) after the captain suffered a medical emergency and had to be physically removed from the flight deck.
Air Canada Flight AC7664, operated by PAL Airlines on behalf of Air Canada, was en route from EWR to Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) on June 24, 2026, when the captain became incapacitated.
The first officer took control of the aircraft and diverted to BOS, where the De Havilland Dash 8-400 landed safely.
Passenger accounts described a dramatic scene on board before the diversion. Rodney McDonald, a passenger traveling with his family, told ABC News that the aircraft suddenly moved in a way that did not feel like turbulence.
“The moment the plane swerved, I knew something was wrong,” McDonald told ABC News.
McDonald said the pilot appeared to be suffering a seizure and was not in control of his body. He said passengers and crew helped restrain the pilot after he was removed from the cockpit.
The flight was carrying 61 passengers, according to Air Canada.
“During the flight, the captain experienced a medical issue and was removed from the flight deck as per safety protocols,” Air Canada said in a statement reported by local media. “The first officer took control of the aircraft and diverted the flight to Boston, where it landed safely.”
Massachusetts State Police said emergency crews at Logan received an alert at about 13:37 local time after ATC reported that a crew member was having a medical emergency. The aircraft landed without further incident, and the captain was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed that the flight diverted to Boston after the pilot suffered a medical emergency.
The aircraft was met on the runway by emergency crews after landing in Boston. Passengers later continued their trip to Halifax after Air Canada arranged for a replacement crew.