A passenger on a Chennai-bound Indigo flight on Saturday died just before the plane could take off following a cardiac arrest, prompting the airline to declare a medical emergency. The flight was delayed by nearly four hours.
In the incident on Flight 6E 279, the passenger identified as Ganesh Sundaram Thapathi, 65, a resident of Chennai, is believed to have suffered a fit when passengers were still boarding the aircraft. He was travelling alone. “The crew immediately alerted the ground staff, who arranged the doctor. The crew provided first aid and a medical emergency was declared on board,” IndiGo said in a statement.
three passengers on board identified themselves as doctors and, together with the flight crew, administered medical aid including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to him. The airport doctor joined the effort, but Mr". Thapathi was declared dead at 3.05 pm.
Authorities informed the Airport police who registered a case of accidental death. Police said Mr. Thapathi’s body is presently at Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle and his son, is on his way to Mumbai.
Inputs by Gautam S Mengle
