JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A flight operated by PAL Airlines on behalf of Air Canada was traveling Wednesday evening from Newark to Halifax when the captain suffered a sudden medical emergency, causing the aircraft to deviate from its course and perform unusual maneuvers.

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The flight crew and passengers were forced to act quickly and calmly to manage the situation until the aircraft made a successful emergency landing in Boston.

Air Canada said that Flight AC7664, operated by regional partner PAL Airlines, was en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday when the captain experienced the medical emergency.

Rodney MacDonald, a passenger traveling with his family, described the frightening moments to ABC News: “The moment the plane veered off course, I knew something was wrong because it wasn’t turbulence. It felt like someone was moving the controls in an unnatural way.”

MacDonald recounted how a flight attendant rushed into the cockpit and then pulled the pilot into the passenger cabin. “I could see that the pilot was physically out of sorts, not violent, but it was clear that he wasn’t in control of his senses and needed to be restrained.”

MacDonald, along with four other passengers, including a registered nurse who provided guidance, spent about 40 minutes helping restrain the pilot.

“We worked to keep him under control. It was an exhausting 40 minutes during which we used every seatbelt we could find to secure his legs, arms, and chest.”

Speaking about the cabin crew, he said:”They were fantastic. They stayed calm the entire time.”

The first officer took control of the aircraft and diverted the flight to Boston, where it landed safely. The captain was taken to a hospital for medical treatment, according to the airline.