Indigo flight diverted to Raipur after passenger falls unconscious, dies

 

 

 

An Indigo flight from Durgapur to Mumbai was diverted to Swami Vivekananda Airport (SVA) here, after a passenger fell unconscious mid-air. Despite immediate medical attention on landing, the 25-year-old was declared dead at Mana Civil Hospital. Officials identified the deceased as Gautam Bawri of Bardhaman district in West Bengal.

 

He was reportedly travelling to Mumbai for blood cancer treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital. Midway through the flight, he felt dizzy, collapsed in his seat, and lost consciousness, prompting the crew to initiate emergency procedures. Alerted by the cabin crew, the pilot sought urgent clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC) and safely landed the aircraft at Raipur. Airport medical teams were on standby and immediately transported the passenger by ambulance to Mana Civil Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

 

In an official statement, Indigo Airlines expressed condolences and confirmed that all standard medical emergency protocols were followed. “Our crew acted swiftly and extended full assistance to the bereaved family,” the airline said. Airport authorities stated that the aircraft remained grounded for nearly an hour to complete medical documentation and technical checks before resuming its journey to Mumbai.

 

Doctors attending the case said the patient’s condition was already critical due to advanced-stage cancer. “His oxygen levels and blood pressure dropped sharply during the flight, leading to cardiac arrest,” one of the attending physicians said. The sudden incident triggered brief anxiety among passengers, but both the crew and airport staff managed the situation calmly and efficiently. Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials engaged in operations at SVA also confirmed that the emergency response adhered strictly to civil aviation safety protocols.