During a flight, you notice the captain appearing unwell and missing items. What is the appropriate action?

• A. Ignore and continue as normal.
• B. Alert ATC about the captain's condition only after landing.
• C. Ask if the captain is okay, suspect medical impairment, offer to take controls, monitor, and involve the rest of the team.
• D. Wait for the captain to declare an emergency.

Answer: (C)

This question tests how a crew member should respond when a captain may be medically impaired. The safest approach is to speak up early, check on the captain’s condition, and actively involve the rest of the crew to manage workload and maintain control of the aircraft. By asking if the captain is okay, you acknowledge the concern and open a dialogue, then recognizing that impairment could be affecting performance guides you to offer to take some of the workload and monitor the situation. Involving the rest of the team ensures that there is shared situational awareness, clear handover responsibilities, and support if the captain becomes unable to continue flying. This proactive, collaborative approach is central to effective crew resource management and keeps flight safety as the priority.

Choosing to ignore the issue or to wait until after landing misses an opportunity to mitigate risk in real time. Waiting for the captain to declare an emergency can delay critical decisions and reduces the chance to distribute workload early. Alerting ATC only after landing may also delay necessary coordination and medical assistance.