Singapore Airlines Flight Delayed After Pilot Falls Ill

Photo: AFP

A Singapore Airlines flight from Hong Kong to Singapore was delayed by over six hours after one of the pilots became sick. The flight, SQ899, was supposed to leave Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) at 9:05 am on March 29, 2025. However, as the plane was moving from its parking spot toward the runway, one of the pilots suddenly felt ill. Because of this, the plane had to go back to the gate.

Singapore Airlines decided to get medical help for the pilot, which meant that all the passengers had to get off the plane and take their luggage with them. The airline gave the passengers meal vouchers and drinks while they waited for the situation to be sorted out. After removing the sick pilot, the airline needed to find a replacement pilot, which caused a delay. The flight finally took off around 3:40 pm, more than six hours later than planned.

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The plane, an Airbus A350, eventually landed in Singapore at 7:36 pm local time. Singapore Airlines said in a statement that the health and safety of their crew is always their priority, and the decision to delay the flight was made for the safety of everyone.

Many passengers were frustrated by the long wait and the confusion. Some travelers shared their experience on social media, saying they didn’t get enough information about when the flight would leave. Having to leave the plane and take all their luggage added to the inconvenience. Even though the airline provided food and drinks, some passengers were unhappy with the way the situation was handled and the lack of communication.

The airline apologized for the delay and said that it was necessary to make sure everyone was safe. This wasn’t the only time something like this happened. In February 2025, an easyJet flight from Egypt to Manchester had to make an emergency landing in Athens after one of the pilots became sick during the flight. In another case, a Lufthansa flight from Miami to Frankfurt in January 2025 had to change plans when the captain became ill in the middle of the flight.

In December 2024, a United Airlines flight from Zurich to Chicago had to land in Halifax because one of its pilots fell sick after flying for seven hours. All these incidents show that pilots' health is very important, and airlines always put safety first, even if it causes delays.