Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Physiological - Other
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Human Factors
While in cruise flight; I became overwhelmed with severe pains in the kidney area. The pain I was in was increasing and I knew that I could not continue much further. I had the First Officer contact the Flight Attendant and ask if there were medical personnel on board. She said there were none on board. Looking at the FMS; I noted that we were still at least 1:15 mins from our destination. The pain coming to a point where I could no longer continue. The First Officer was aware that I had become for the most part unable to do my job. He was very concerned for the safety of the flight and agreed with me that we needed to get the aircraft on the ground as soon as we could.Looking at our altitude and the destinations that were within a 3 degree path; [a nearby airport] seemed to be the most likely and closest destination that could provide assistance. I notified our dispatcher that I was in pain and we needed to get the aircraft on the ground ASAP. I told him that we were going to divert. ACARS reply said ok will notify Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to meet the aircraft at the gate. First Officer notified ATC that we had a medical emergency on board the flight. We had selected [a] divert airport. I would note that with kidney stones; there are waves of pain in between more moments of tolerability. I did not consider myself to have been incapacitated; but knew that the First Officer needed to take control of the aircraft and complete the flight. I elected to move my seat away from the controls and tighten my seatbelt. He handled all the checklists and performed the remainder of the flight on his own as I pointed out some of the things he needed to do...ie setting up the destination alternate in the FMS; running a checklist for him; providing any support to him as he needed it. We discussed if we should stop on the runway; and I told him that I believed that we didn't need to at this time.   I had made the decision that had I been in that much pain; I would have stopped on the runway and had the aircraft towed to the gate. As it happened; I was in between waves of pain when we landed and felt; the best thing to do was clear the runway; which we did. I had planned on stopping on the taxiway; but since I was in only tolerable pain; elected to move to the gate; which we did. The First Officer was monitoring me and guarding the brakes for me and had been ready to take over if needed.Upon arrival at the gate; I was removed and taken to the hospital. The aircraft was never in a position of a threat or undesired aircraft state.In flight; pilot illness is something that we all dread and fear. We are trained to fly the aircraft single pilot if need be. There was no way that I could have anticipated this happening to me. Had I known; I certainly would never have left the gate. I have never had kidney stones before so I did not understand what was happening to me at the time.I did everything I could remember to do in a medical diversion. I certainly was unable to review materials in the FOM or other company materials as I was writhing in excruciating pain and the First Officer had his hands full working the radios; dealing with the Flight Attendant and operating the aircraft. The first priority was to safely get the airplane on the ground and protect the passengers and the aircraft. Secondly was to get me to a hospital for medical treatment. I believe that the First Officer did exactly as he was trained to do and did it excellently.
CRJ-700 Captain reported diverting to an alternate airport after experiencing excruciating pain from kidney stones.