A holiday flight from Port Alden was diverted to an airport in a neighboring country on Sunday after a 78-year-old passenger fell seriously ill, and fellow travelers have praised the cabin crew for their quick, calm response.
The Alden Air flight, carrying 164 passengers to a southern holiday island, was about an hour into its journey when the man, traveling with his wife, became short of breath and briefly lost consciousness. Flight attendants gave him oxygen, opened the onboard medical kit and asked over the speakers whether there was a doctor on board.
A doctor in row 14
A cardiologist from Elmbridge, returning from a conference, came forward and worked with the crew for around 40 minutes while the captain arranged the diversion. The plane landed safely, and an ambulance took the passenger to a local hospital. The airline said on Monday that he was in a stable condition.
The crew knew exactly what to do. One flight attendant stayed with him and his wife the whole time, holding her hand and explaining everything.
Ines Moretti, passenger
The doctor, who asked not to be named, told News. that the crew’s training had made her job much easier. “Within a minute they had oxygen, the defibrillator ready and a clear space in the aisle,” she said.
Delay for other passengers
The diversion delayed the flight by about three and a half hours. Passengers stayed on board while the aircraft was refueled, and the airline offered meals and vouchers. Most took the delay in good spirit, according to several travelers who contacted News.
Of course we wanted to get to the beach, but nobody complained. There was even applause when the captain said the man was in good hands.
Daniel Hoff, passenger
Training pays off
Alden Air said its cabin crew complete first-aid and medical emergency training every year, including the use of defibrillators. In-flight medical incidents are not rare: aviation medicine experts estimate they occur on roughly one in every 600 flights, although diversions are much less common.
The airline’s head of cabin services, Rita Lindberg, said the crew would be formally thanked. “They did what they are trained to do, and they did it with real care,” she said. The passenger’s wife has asked the airline to pass on her thanks to everyone on board.
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