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Jet Airways Fiasco: It could have resulted in serious medical repercussions, say docs

Thirty of the 166 passengers on board experienced ear and nose bleeding, dizziness and breathing difficulties and were administered first aid after the flight landed back in Mumbai.

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A plane making an air turn-back with passengers slumped in seats, unconscious, with oxygen masks dangling due to a loss in cabin pressure could have well ended up in a major tragedy, involving serious medical repercussions and death. Luckily, it was averted on Thursday, thanks to the Jet Airways flight making a timely descend to a breathable altitude and make a return safe landing.

"Imagine something very heavy such as a bike or a car passing over you. The asphyxia experienced in such cases is comparable to that feeling. Additionally, a person experiences severe stress and could suffer a heart attack," said Dr Santosh Kondekar, who practices at Sushrusha Hospital.

Thirty of the 166 passengers on board experienced ear and nose bleeding, dizziness and breathing difficulties and were administered first aid after the flight landed back in Mumbai. Typically the cabin pressure is controlled and maintained at a level equivalent to the pressure at 8,000 feet, reports suggested that upon takeoff the switch which controls the cabin air pressure wasn't switched on, resulting in a loss of cabin pressure.

A few patients were treated at Nanavati Hospital for barotrauma, which occurs when the pressure differential in the eustachian tube, which links the middle ear to the mouth (nasopharynx), reaches around 90 mm Hg, locking up the tube and preventing equalisation of pressure, causing a lot of pain. As the pressure differential increases, the eardrum ruptures, further causing mild hearing loss, dizziness and at times vomiting.

"The injuries are grievous if there was bleeding, but such injuries generally heal in seven to 10 days. The passengers might suffer from mild hearing loss temporarily, but chances of permanent damage are minimal. Air travel should also be avoided until full recovery," said Dr Shrinivas Chavan, Head of ENT, JJ Hospital.

Another concern with such incidents is the low oxygen level, in a video uploaded by a passenger on the Jet flight, a person is seen not wearing the oxygen mask properly, leaving his nose uncovered, and thus more prone to suffer from low oxygen levels.

"Drop in cabin pressure causes drop of Oxygen content in the cabin air, leading to dipping in Oxygen levels in the blood; resulting in breathing difficulties. Passengers with Lung Diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD) or Interstitial Lung Disease(ILD) can be more prone than others, to develop breathlessness," said Dr Prashant Chhajed, Head of Respiratory Medicine, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital.

JET STATEMENT

  • Five of the passengers referred to a hospital for additional medical check-up have been released post medical examination.
     
  • The airline will continue to offer necessary medical care and attention to the concerned guests as required.
     
  • Jet Airways is also extending full cooperation to the DGCA for the ongoing investigation of the event..
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