Docs, flyers save life of co-passenger on Delhi-Pune flight

A middle-aged woman who experienced a cardiac arrest last week in mid-air was saved from certain death by a doctor on board an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Pune with the help of cabin crew and some passengers.

On March 17, the flight (15-764) was scheduled to land in Pune by 6.10 am, having taken off from Delhi at around 4 am. Passengers included a doctor and senior consultant in cardiac anesthesia from Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar.

The doctor reported that at approximately 5:15 a.m., a member of the cabin crew reported a medical emergency and inquired as to whether a doctor or paramedic was present on the aircraft. He replied right away, and the member of the crew led him to the middle-aged woman’s seat. He noticed her hunched over a tray table, struggling to breathe. Her carotid pulse was racing when the doctor examined her. Despite being buckled up, she was not responding.

The doctor went on to say that it was challenging to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on her in the brief amount of time that was available. He managed to free her from her seat with the assistance of the cabin crew, but administering CPR was unfeasible due to the small space between the aisles. The cabin crew lifted her legs while he held her head up. Even so, they were having trouble relieving her pain. At that point, additional flyers offered assistance.

The doctor continued that the woman was moved slowly from seat to seat and that the flyers supported her back until she reached the area near the wings, which has more room than other areas. She would not have been able to be moved if not for the other flyers. He checked her pulse again once they were in a roomy area, and this time it was abnormally fast. She was able to regain semi-consciousness and her pulse gradually returned to normal as a result of his gentle carotid massage. She was also given some chest compressions.

A spokesperson of the airline said that a passenger on the March 17 Delhi-Pune flight had a medical emergency. The flight crew informed the ATC of the condition to enable medical assistance upon landing in Pune, and the airline crew, along with a doctor, provided immediate medical attention.