A German national, aged 63, suffered a fatal medical crisis on a Lufthansa flight from Bangkok to Munich on Thursday, February 8. The incident occurred during a late-night flight, leading to an emergency diversion back to Bangkok and leaving passengers and crew in a state of shock.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the man, whose identity remains undisclosed, boarded the plane with his wife and appeared visibly ill. Passengers Martin and Karin Missfelder, who were seated at an angle behind them, observed the man exhibiting symptoms like cold sweats and rapid breathing. However, the flight crew permitted him to continue with the journey after his wife explained his poor state was due to rushing to catch the flight.
The man’s health deteriorated significantly as the flight progressed. Karin Missfelder, a nursing specialist, recommended the flight attendants get a medical professional to check on him. A young doctor from Poland with limited English proficiency examined the man but did not provide much treatment beyond checking his pulse and inquiring about his well-being. The flight attendants offered him chamomile tea.
The situation worsened when the man started vomiting blood into a bag, followed by a significant amount of blood flowing from his nose and mouth, staining parts of the airplane interior, even the walls. Martin Missfelder, sharing his experience with Swiss media outlet Blick, stated that the man lost several quarts of blood, leading to a panic among passengers.
Despite the flight attendants’ efforts to revive the man for approximately 30 minutes, he did not survive. The pilot decided to return to Bangkok about 90 minutes into the flight, where the deceased man’s body was taken off the plane. The original flight was subsequently canceled due to the medical emergency, and passengers were rebooked on other flights. Lufthansa has not disclosed additional details about the incident, citing privacy concerns, but has expressed its condolences.
This incident has highlighted issues regarding the airline’s handling of the crisis and the lack of adequate support provided to the passengers, particularly the deceased man’s wife, who had to navigate customs alone.
Airlines have protocols in place for managing medical emergencies, including first aid provision by trained crew members and potential flight diversion to the closest airport. This incident emphasizes the importance of assessing passengers’ fitness to fly, particularly when signs of illness are evident, and the necessity for comprehensive emergency medical provisions on board.