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Flight disrupted by pilot's illness

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A commercial passenger plane on a short run in the Canadian Maritimes turned back Saturday morning after the pilot passed out briefly, officials said.

The pilot of Porter Airlines Flight 243 became sick after taking off from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Robert Deluce, the airline's president and CEO, said in a statement. The first officer took over the controls and returned to Halifax, landing safely.

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By the time the plane was on the ground at Robert Stanfield Airport, the pilot was well enough to walk to a waiting ambulance, Deluce said. A replacement crew took the plane to St. John's, Newfoundland.

Ashley Barnes, a spokeswoman for the airport authority, said officials there were notified of the emergency about 45 minutes after the plane departed at 10:30 a.m.

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