Nagpur: A 60-year-old passenger died mid-air on a SpiceJet flight travelling from Gorakhpur to Mumbai, prompting an emergency landing at Nagpur’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport late Monday night.
The deceased has been identified as Suman Kumar Chaudhary, a resident of Gorakhpur, who was travelling with his wife and son. According to officials, the incident occurred aboard flight SG-555, which took off from Gorakhpur at around 8:04 pm.
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Medical emergency mid-flight
During the journey, Chaudhary, who was seated in 6B, suddenly fell ill and lost consciousness, triggering panic among passengers. Noticing the medical emergency, the pilot took an immediate decision to divert the flight to Nagpur.
The aircraft landed at Nagpur Airport at around 10 pm, where an emergency medical team was already on standby.
Declared dead on arrival
According to Ejaz Shami, Head of Branding and Communication at KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals, doctors and an ambulance had been deployed in advance following an alert from the flight crew. However, by the time the aircraft landed, the passenger had already passed away onboard.
He was later shifted to a government medical facility, where doctors confirmed his death.
Passengers protest over treatment
The flight, carrying around 162 passengers, witnessed unrest after landing. Some passengers alleged that they were made to remain inside the aircraft for nearly three hours without clear communication from the airline staff.
A passenger, Sheikh Sohail Salim, claimed that basic amenities, including drinking water, were not provided during the delay, leading to frustration among flyers. The situation escalated into protests inside the aircraft, with passengers expressing anger over the handling of the situation.
Authorities are expected to review the incident, including onboard medical response and passenger management during the emergency.
