B777-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Physiological - Other
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors
As the First Officer and the Pilot Monitoring; I had [my] last break and was set to be awoken 50 minutes prior to landing. Shortly before my wake up call; I awoke feeling ill. Stomach felt hard with cramps; fever/sweating; and moderate queasiness and mild diarrhea (flu like symptoms). As a result; I rose a few minutes early and went to the lavatory to freshen up. The ill feelings persisted. The Purser; recognizing my 'lack of color;' offered Club Soda and Ginger Ale to help with my queasiness and to perhaps rehydrate. She also mentioned that an additional Cabin Crew member(s) had gotten ill which lead me to believe it was a food related illness. I returned to the flight deck just prior to top of descent. I discussed my situation with the Captain and Relief Officer. I then learned that the Relief Officer was also feeling ill; which was a concern as he was non-current for landings and was on a waiver for this sequence. Because of this; I felt compelled to remain at my duty station. As the cabin altitude began to change upon descent my symptoms worsened. Shortly after FL180; I began to experience the precursors to vomiting. I informed the Captain that I would need to unstrap and go to the Lavatory; however before I could completely extricate myself from the seat I began violently throwing up into a garbage bag. I then left the flight deck and went to the Lavatory. I remained there until short final and went to the crew seat in First Class for the landing. While no aviation safety system can necessarily prevent food borne or air borne illness; waivers for experiential currencies; such as basic landing currency and or qualification are inherently not in the best interests of flight safety.
I put the [Relief Officer] in the right seat and completed the flight with no event. The First Officer and Relief Officer suspected food poisoning. I was the Pilot Flying.
B777-200 flight crew reported that a 'non-current for landings' Relief Pilot took over for the First Officer who was incapacitated due to apparent food poisoning.