Medical emergency

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    Airborne Medical Emergencies Abound


    I doubt that April is any worse a month for medical emergencies, but just to give you a snapshot at how common it is—at least this past week—

    • April 5 American Airlines New York to Buenos Aires Diverted to Caracas Venezuela with a sick man-
    • April 6 (April 5-6) Cathay Pacific Chicago-Hong Kong An undisclosed medical emergency occurred; flight diverted to Anchorage for the medical emergency. (The flight had a second diversion, probably for a crew change before arriving at their destination.)
    • April 7 Air New Zealand London to LAX A diabetic ten year old boy received assistance from crew as pilots diverted to Minneapolis. The boy was hospitalized in Minneapolis.
    • April 8 Egyptair Cairo to Nigeria Infant became ill; crew returned to Cairo and made a safe landing. The infant was hospitalized.
    • April 9 Delta Japan- Honolulu passenger suffered an attack 2 hours outside of Honolulu; cabin crew and nurse/passenger attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation but pronounced DOA.
    • April 10 LAN Airlines Santiago to Arica male passenger suffered a stroke. A doctor provided first aid; Flight diverted to Copiapo where the passenger was hospitalized.

    In George’s Point of View

    These medical incidents really don’t differ from how many we usually see–maybe its just spring fever, but I’m just sayin’…make sure you’re a-ok before you set foot on board!

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    Octogenarian Lands Plane Beside Unconscious Pilot/Spouse

    What: C And S Manufacturing Corp Cessna 414A en route from Marco Island, Collier County, Florida to Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin
    Where: Wisconsin
    When: April 2,2012
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: After her husband John passed out at the controls of their Cessna, eighty-one year old Helen Collins took some quick lessons “on the fly” and managed to land the plane, with minor damage.

    Air Traffic Control talked to her until pilot instructor Robert Vuksanovic took his plane up to fly by her as he coached her down. The distress call came at 5:05 pm. after Collins was three hours in flight from Marco Island, Florida. On landing, Helen and her husband John were hospitalized; John was declared dead at 6:38 p.m. Helen had back pain, minor bumps and bruises and a broken rib, but her son Richard Collins did not lose both of his parents that day.

    A heroic effort from ATC, Collins and flight instructor Robert Vuksanovic.

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    Fatal History of Jet Blue Airbus Captain

    Clayton Osbon is not the first Osbon to have cause to fear a plane. Osbon, the Jet Blue pilot who recently had an on-the-job meltdown (described as erratic, bizarre, disturbing behavior) while piloting an Airbus from New York to Las Vegas lost his father in a Daytona Beach plane crash in 1995. Maybe his father’s death had something to do with Osbon’s March 27 mid-flight breakdown. Osbon’s panic attack led to him being tackled outside the cockpit and handcuffed as the quick-thinking co-pilot Jason Dowd and another Jet Blue pilot who happened to be aboard diverted the flight to Amarillo.

    Before he left the cockpit, Captain Osbon, a captain since 1989, began ranting to Jason Dowd about Flight 191’s destination, threatening to crash the plane rather than fly into the den of iniquity that is Las Vegas.

    Osbon has been charged with interfering with the flight crew. He has been suspended from his job, and is charged with interfering with the flight crew. He faces 20 years (max) in prison and a $250,000 fine.

    Nothing in his history relates to his breakdown. Osbon is described by his friends and peers as a “consummate professional.” He is a war vet who is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

    What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Las Vegas
    Where: Amarillo
    When: March 27 2012
    Who: 1 medical emergency, 135 passengers, six crew
    Why: While en route, the pilot of the JetBlue Airbus suffered a panic attack, and had to be locked out of the cabin and forcibly restrained.

    Read more


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    Jetblue Pilot Breakdown over Amarillo Texas, Raw Video, Flight 191

    What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Las Vegas
    Where: Amarillo
    When: March 27 2012
    Who: 1 medical emergency, 135 passengers, six crew
    Why: While en route, the pilot of the JetBlue Airbus suffered a panic attack. He was locked out of the cockpit and restrained, and another JetBlue pilot who was aboard assisted the first officer in the cockpit as they diverted to Amarillo and made a safe landing.

    The pilot had walked to the back of the plane, and when he returned to the cockpit and found he was locked out, he began yelling “Let me in” and raving about a bomb.

    After landing in Amarillo, the captain was taken off the plane into an ambulance that sat on the tarmac for thirty minutes before he was taken to an Amarillo hospital.

    Jet Blue’s Official Statement


    “Flight 191 departed New York’s JFK airport at 7:28 am ET (was scheduled to depart 6:55 am ET). At roughly 10 am CT/11 am ET, the pilot in command elected to divert to Amarillo, TX for a medical situation involving the Captain. Another Captain, traveling off duty, entered the flight deck prior to landing at Amarillo, and took over the duties of the ill crewmember once on the ground. The aircraft arrived Amarillo at 10:11 am CT, and the crewmember was removed from the aircraft and taken to a local medical facility.

    Customers remain on board at this time. JetBlue is working with local authorities and airport officials for the safe deplaning of the aircraft and will send a new aircraft to continue the flight to LAS.”

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    American Airlines Hysteria Aboard

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    What: American Airlines Dallas to Chicago
    Where: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
    When: March 9 2012
    Who: 1 flight attendant
    Why: While American Airlines Flight 2332 was on the runway, a flight attendant gave a fifteen minute rambling dialogue on the public address system just before she had a meltdown, and started screeching about the plane crashing. (see passenger’s raw video youtube below.) The fight attendant is apparently bi-polar and had not taken her medication.

    Among other things, she said, “We are not taking off. We’re having technical difficulties. We are heading back to the gate.”

    Passengers and crew cooperated in restraining her.

    Wisely the pilot did not take off with her aboard but returned to the gate and dropped her where she was detained by police. Two flight attendants were injured and hospitalized. (Reports do not say if this number included the bipolar attendant.)

    The 8:25 flight did not take off till 10:00.

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    CSA First Officer Lands Alone after Captain Succumbs


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Borut Smrdelj

    What: CSA Czech Airlines Avion de Transport Regional ATR-42-500 en route from Warsaw to Prague
    Where: Prague
    When: Feb 15th 2012
    Who: 1 fatality
    Why: After a normal flight, on approach to Prague, the first officer informed ATC that the captain was incapacitated. The f.o. landed the plane.

    Emergency services responded, but the captain was pronounced dead. He as 58 years old.

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    Ground Crew Struck by Propeller

    What: Canadian North de Havilland Dash 8-100 en route from Cambridge Bay to Yellowknife
    Where: Yellowknife
    When: Feb 13th 2012
    Who: 17 aboard
    Why: After landing safely in Yellowknife, the plane was being directed from tarmac to parking. One engine had been shut down, and a ground crew member was struck by the right propeller.

    Emergency services were on hand.

    The injured party, who was a new hire, was flown by medical ambulance to Edmonton.

    In George’s Point of View


    In many cases, I say Maintenance, maintenance maintenance! but in this case, I say Caution, caution, caution! One can never be too careful. Perhaps a longer training period would be advisable?

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    Dulles Tarmac Collision Kills Southwest Airlines Employee

    The collision between a “people mover” passenger shuttle and a baggage injured a Southwest Airlines ramp worker. The accident occurred at Dulles International airport. The shuttle ports people between the terminal and concourse.

    After the Thursday morning crash, the injured employee was hospitalized at Inova Fairfax Hospital. No one on the Plane Mates shuttle was injured. The worker died overnight.

    The airline’s statement
    On Thursday, Jan. 26, at approximately 7am, a Southwest Employee was involved in a collision between a baggage cart and a mobile lounge at Washington Dulles Airport. Immediately following the accident, the injured Employee was rushed to an area hospital to receive medical attention. We learned earlier today, Friday, Jan. 27, that the Employee passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. We continue to work with all relevant agencies, including the local authorities and the airport, to investigate events surrounding the accident. The Southwest Airlines Family is greatly saddened by the passing of our Southwest Family Member, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies and support to his entire family at this time.”

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    Thomson Airways Flight Attendant Injured by Galley Steam


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Rodolfo García López

    What: Thomson Airways Boeing 767-300 en route from Bridgetown to London
    Where: Atlantic
    When: Jan 19th 2012
    Who: 1 injury
    Why: Thirty minutes into the flight, a flight attendant incurred facial injuries from steam in the galley.

    The flight diverted to Bermuda where they made a safe landing. It took an hour to get underway again, after the injured attendant was taken to the hospital.

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    Bumpy Brazil Air Leaves American Airlines Flight All Shook up


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Terry Wade

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Recife, Brazil to Miami,FL
    Where: Brazil
    When: Jan 22nd 2012
    Who: 136 passengers, 9 crew
    Why: A couple of hours into the flight, the crew ran into some turbulence.

    It was severe turbulence that according to passengers “felt like the floor fell out from under,” and which knocked around a couple of flight attendants. A number of unseat-belted people hit the ceiling, including a flight attendant who actually knocked a hole in the ceiling before her trolley landed on her. (I presume she’s one of the five who went to the hospital.) Those trolleys look heavy.

    The extent of injuries was not released, but it was apparently not severe enough that they had to scramble to divert to somewhere in the Brazilian bush.

    One of the passengers happened to be an ER doctor, and he administered first aid. A number of the uninjured were said to be hysterical.

    Miami-Dade Fire Department and Airport Fire and Rescue were on the scene. In Miami, five flight attendants went straight into ambulances and one was treated at the airport.

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    Delta Attendant Injured Over Atlanta


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Alex Khan

    What: Delta Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Managua to Atlanta,GA
    Where: Atlanta
    When: Jan 2nd 2012
    Who: 1 injured
    Why: On approach to Atlanta, the flight encountered turbulence. A flight attendant was injured about a quarter of an hour before landing. There’s no indication if the turbulence was due to weather or wake turbulence.

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    Crew Injured in Turbulent Approach to Oakland


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer DJ Reed – OPShots Photo Team

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Albuquerque,NM to Oakland,CA
    Where: Oakland
    When: Dec 1st 2011
    Who: 95 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: On approach to Oakland, the plane flew through ten seconds of turbulence that injured the cabin crew.

    The pilots made a safe landing half an hour later, after which two members of the crew were hospitalized.

    In George’s Point of View


    Given the time and place, we might be able to chalk this one up to the Santa Ana Winds.

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    Two Concussions from LAN ANDES Turbulence


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer AirSpeed

    What: LAN Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Santiago Chile to Cordoba Argentina
    Where: Andes
    When: Nov 8th 2011
    Who: 2 injured
    Why: The flight from Santiago to Cordoba encountered turbulence over the Andes.

    In a mountainous area, wind strikes the mountain causing updrafts and downdrafts. The turbulence the flight ran into occurred in an area where turbulence is frequent, and where the seatbelts are required.

    On landing, the two injured parties were hospitalized with concussions.

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    Jet Blue Diverts to Ft. Lauderdale

    What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from Ponce Puerto Rico to Orlando,FL
    Where: Ft. Lauderdale
    When: Oct 28th 2011
    Who: 1 sick passenger
    Why: Because of a sick passenger suffering seizures aboard the flight, the pilot diverted to Fort Lauderdale. On approach to the airport, the crew found hydraulic issues, and descended with little rudder control (due to the hydraulic issues.)

    The flight made a safe landing.

    Medical services was awaiting the passenger, who was transported to the hospital, after the safe landing.

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    Delta Emergency Landing in Great Falls Montana

    What: Delta Boeing 757 en route from Atlanta to Seattle
    Where: Great Falls International Airport
    When: October 23, 2011, 12:30 pm
    Who: 177 passengers, 1 emergency
    Why: While en route, a passenger aboard flight 129 became unconscious.

    The pilots diverted to Great Falls where they made an emergency landing, and delivered the passenger to an ambulance which took her to Benefits Health System, facilitated by the Montana Air National Guard Fire Department.

    The flight took off again, promptly.

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    Baby Arrives Via Air India


    What: Air India Boeing 777-300 en route from Delhi India to Toronto,ON Canada
    Where: Kazakhstan
    When: Oct 22nd 2011
    Who: 1 baby
    Why: While en route, 35-year-old Kulraj Kaur (Kuljeet), a pregnant passenger in her 32nd week was traveling with her husband when she went into labor. A pediatrician and an oncologist were on board to deliver the baby. The eight hour delivery occurred at 31,000 feet and was considered “normal”. The flight continued, and the baby was born while the flight was still in the air.

    According to aviation law, an infant born on a flight is granted citizen ship to the country where the plane is registered, regardless of the parents’ citizenship or location of the event.

    The pilot Captain Kapil Kohli told Canadian ATC that “We departed with 268 passengers, but will be landing with 269.”

    Most airlines allow women to fly up to 35th weeks, after which they require a note from their obstetrician.

    In George’s Point of View


    A whole new meaning to Express Delivery!

    Congratulations to the family.

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    Turbulence Injury over Rhode Island


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Rodolfo García López

    What: US Airways Boeing 767-200 en route from Philadelphia, to Frankfurt Germany
    Where: Providence
    When: Oct 19th 2011
    Who: One injury
    Why: While while en route over west Providence over Rhode Island, an encounter with turbulence resulted in a serious injury to a passenger’s ankle. The flight returned to Philadelphia due to the medical emergency. Departure was delayed. The flight did land in Frankfurt about four hours late.

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    First Officer Attacked by Stairway


    What: Virgin Australia/Pacific Blue Boeing 737-800 en route from Brisbane,QL to Denpasar Bali
    Where: Brisbane
    When: Oct 14th 2011
    Who: 1st officer
    Why: The plane was in its parking bay as the first officer was inspecting the plane prior to departure, when the exhaust of a departing Qantas jet blew the mobile stairs, including the first officer, over. Both stairs and pilot ended up on the tarmac, the first officer ending up with a broken arm and leg. The plane was in its parking bay. The pilot departed for the hospital, presumably by ambulance, and the plane departed for Bali, with only a 90 minute delay.

    I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this happening!

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    Emergency Diversion and Tire trouble

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Lousiville to Los Angeles
    Where: Los Angeles
    When: Aug 21st 2011
    Who: 197 aboard
    Why: This was a double trouble flight, en route from Boston to Los Angeles, when they had to divert to Louisville when a passenger had an emergency. After three hours in Louisville, the plane was back in the air. However, on approach to LAX, the crew experienced gear problems and performed a flyby.

    Tower observers noted a main gear tire was missing.

    The crew continued to make a safe landing, with the tireless gear shooting sparks. There were no injuries reported.

    But…where’s the tire?

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    US Airways Fumes Hospitalize 5 in Charlotte

    What: US Airways en route from New York
    Where: Charlotte-Douglas International Airport
    When: Aug 18, 2011
    Who: 183 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: While en route, the crew declared an emergency.

    Passengers and crew were affected by fumes that spread from the cabin to the cockpit. The fumes aboard the flight seemed to be worse in the back of the plane. In addition to the odor, passengers felt confused and dizzy, and some had chest pains, and had to use on board oxygen masks. It was described as “a very unpleasant odor.”

    The flight diverted to Charlotte and made a safe landing. Maintenance inspected the plane, the third such incident in Charlotte in two weeks.

    Five people aboard the flight were hospitalized.

  • Medical Emergency(s) In the Air


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Trevor Mulkerrins

    What: Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Paris to Washington DC
    Where: Shannon
    When: Jun 13th 2011
    Who: 1
    Why: While en route, a 79 year old passenger suffered a heart attack.

    The flight detoured to Shannon, where the passenger was ported to a hospital; the flight continued to Washington.


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Robin Orszulik

    What: Spanair Airbus A320-200 en route from Las Palmas to Madrid
    Where: Madrid
    When: Jun 13th 2011
    Who: 1
    Why: On approach to Madrid, a 50 year old passenger who was traveling for treatment became ill. On landing in Madrid, the passenger was declared dead.


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Stefan Sonnenberg

    What: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 en route from Milan to Oslo
    Where: Frankfurt
    When: Jun 11th 2011
    Who: 1 passenger
    Why: While en route from Italy to Norway, a woman had a heart attack over Germany; the flight diverted to Frankfurt and made a safe landing. The passenger was admitted to a German hospital, delaying the flight on the ground for almost an hour and a half. The flight continued on to Torp (Oslo) and made a safe landing.

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    Virgin Airbus Diverts to St Johns

    What: Virgin Airlines Airbus A-340 en route from London to Washington DC.
    Where: St Johns International
    When: May 2011
    Who: 269 passengers
    Why: While en route, a passenger was ill. The flight diverted to DC to get the passenger assistance, and made a safe landing. THe passenger was transported to the Health Sciences Centre and the flight resumed.

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    Two Injured in Westjet Turbulence

    What: Westjet Boeing 737 en route from Toronto to Victoria
    Where: Victoria
    When: May 20, 2011
    Who: 116 passengers and six crew
    Why: While en route, the flight encountered turbulence, injuring a flight attendant, who was bruised, and a passenger who injured an ankle. Injuries tend to occur when a passenger takes off their seat belt, or a flight attendant is up performing duties when the turbulence strikes.

    The injuries suffered aboard the Westjet flight are not serious.