A harrowing medical emergency aboard an IndiGo flight (6E724) traveling from Goa to Chandigarh on June 16th was averted. The flight faced a sickness case that was terrifying, but a doctor and the flight crew were quick to react hence curing the patient. The incident took place 14,000, showcasing the importance of medical personnel onboard commercial flights and the crucial role airlines play in emergency preparedness.
The drama began when a 27-year-old passenger’s health deteriorated rapidly during the flight. The crew took quick actions on realizing the gravity of the situation resulting in flight being redirected to Mumbai -nearest airport with enough medical facilities, meanwhile, they used Automated External Defibrillator (AED) so that patient could stabilize and not go into cardiac arrest.
Adding a vital layer of support were two doctors identified by the crew onboard, one of them being Major Simrat Rajdeep Singh, an army doctor stationed at the Command Hospital Western Command Chandimandir in Chandigarh. Major Singh’s presence proved lifesaving. After a thorough assessment, he and the other doctor diagnosed the passenger with end-stage chronic kidney disease, a condition likely exacerbated by the low oxygen pressure experienced at high altitudes in airplanes.
Upon landing in Mumbai, emergency medical personnel were waiting to attend to the passenger. He was carefully deplaned in a wheelchair and received immediate medical care. Throughout the ordeal, the crew maintained clear communication with the captain, ensuring a smooth and coordinated emergency landing.
IndiGo airlines, in a statement recognizing the incident lauded the crew’s promptness and efficiency in managing the medical emergency. They also assured of their unconditional dedication to the passengers’ safety and security even under difficult circumstances.
In case of emergency, having medical personnel on board during commercial flights might come in handy sometimes. By being there, Major Singh managed to get the flight attendant medical help in advance and save the person’s life because he acted fast enough unlike others would do. And it also shows how much responsibility plane companies bear while performing their daily routines and prepare them to be ready for any unexpected situation where people’s lives are in danger is their main purpose.
