Pilot's presence of mind saves a life aboard Mumbai bound plane

An Air India flight  with 244 passengers made an unscheduled landing at Kolkata’s NSCB International Airport on Wednesday after the pilot reported an on-board medical emergency.

According to the airline officials, the incident happened on flight AI 331 flying from Bangkok to Mumbai. Shortly after 9 pm. Capt. Sarabjeet Singh, and co-pilot Pranay Misal contacted the ATC and informed that a passenger had fallen sick. They told the ATC that the passenger’s condition was serious and requested for a medical team to be on standby. 

In a display of acute presence of mind and skill in demanding situation, doctors were rushed to Air Traffic Control(ATC) in order to communicate with pilot of a Bangkok-Mumbai Air India flight as one of the passenger was in need of urgent medical attention. The officials added that soon after, the pilot again radioed the ATC that the passenger's condition was deteriorating fast and he sought immediate advice from the doctors over the Very High Frequency (VHF).

The doctors through ATC communication system kept advising the pilots regarding what and how to give basic medical treatment to the patient till the plan landed at Kolkata airport by changing its route.

"His presence of mind and immediate action resulted in an uncommon situation where Airports Authority of India (AAI) doctors were taken to the ATC tower and interacted with the pilot to advise the best possible emergency treatment that could help the passenger till the plane landed." Said an airline spokesperson.

The flight landed at Kolkata airport at around 10 pm. The patient was later admitted to a hospital in Kolkata, while the plane further continued its journey to Mumbai after mid night. 

Also read: Mumbai bound Air India flight from Bangkok makes emergency landing