Passenger dies on board Air India flight, Death raises questions on airport checks
Mumbai: A 42-year-old passenger on board an Air India flight from Lagos to Mumbai died under unusual circumstances, raising several questions on the checks and thermal screening being conducted at the airports amid the coronavirus pandemic and how a passenger with a fever was allowed to board the flight.
Sources have told India Today TV that the passenger was seen shivering inside the flight. When inquired, the passenger had informed the Air India crew that he had malaria. Sources have said that the crew of the flight had also provided him oxygen as he was finding it difficult to breathe.
The passenger, however, collapsed and died on board the Air India flight. The sources have also told India Today TV that the passenger was bleeding from his mouth.
The flight landed at the Mumbai Airport at 3:40 am.
Air India has, however, said that the passenger died of “natural causes”. Denying that the passenger had a fever, Air India said “Our Lagos medical screening team would have detected the same” if that was the case.
In a statement, Air India said, “A passenger aboard AI1906 of 13th June, 2020, from Lagos to Mumbai passed away due to natural causes today.”
“A doctor on board along with our crew, who are trained to handle such medical emergencies, made a valiant attempt to revive the pax, aged 42, who had suddenly collapsed, through resuscitation etc but all their efforts went in vain. He was declared dead on board by the attending doctor,” the Air India said.
It further added, “The MIAL doctors attended to the pax after the flight landed and after all the procedures were complete, the body was sent to a hospital as per protocol. Relatives of the deceased were informed and aircraft taken for full fumigation as per norms.”