News | WorldUnited Airlines plane is diverted after co-pilot passes out on boardDiverted: file image shows a United Airlines planeJustin Sullivan/Getty ImagesRachel Blundy6 October 2015A United Airlines plane was forced to divert after the co-pilot passed out.The flight from Houston to San Francisco was forced to land in Albuquerque, New Mexico after the first officer, who was second in command, had a "medical episode", officials said.A spokesman for Albuquerque airport said the pilot contacted air traffic controllers shortly after 8am to say it would landing there.The plane landed safely about 20 minutes later, the Associated Press reported.The co-pilot was said to have regained consciousness and walked off the plane before he was taken to hospital.Read MoreAmerican Airlines flight makes emergency landing after pilot diesRussell Tovey live-tweets flight next to annoying passengerSalmond barred from Heathrow flight after booking as Star Trek captainThere were no further details today about his condition or what may have caused him to pass out.United Airlines said it was aware of the diversion but made no further comment.The incident came a day after an American Airlines captain became gravely ill while flying from Phoenix to Boston and later died.Additional reporting by the Press AssociationMORE ABOUTUnited AirlinesAmerican AirlinesPress AssociationNew MexicoHoustonSan FranciscoBostonPhoenix
