A female passenger lost her life on a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane to Melbourne, Australia on July 29, 2024. The unfortunate incident, which occurred around 9:30 a.m., left other passengers on board startled and distressed.
The woman, whose identity remains confidential, abruptly collapsed during flight VA308, which had left Brisbane early that morning destined for Melbourne. The flight crew promptly started performing CPR on her.
“Virgin Australia can confirm a medical emergency on board flight VA308 traveling from Brisbane to Melbourne this morning,” stated a Virgin Australia spokesperson. “Medical experts onboard assisted cabin crew before paramedics met the aircraft in Melbourne. The passenger was taken off the aircraft but unfortunately later passed away.”
The pilot of the plane liaised with air traffic control to secure a fast-track landing at Tullamarine Airport in Victoria. The plane touched down at about 10:15 a.m., with emergency services ready to provide assistance.
Emergency medical personnel quickly attended to the woman upon landing, moving her to a waiting ambulance. Despite their best efforts, she could not be resuscitated and was declared dead shortly after being removed from the aircraft.
The Victoria Police Department has clarified that the woman’s death is not being investigated as suspicious. A report is currently being prepared for the coroner to establish the precise cause of her death. This incident has caused unease among passengers and airline personnel about the potential for sudden medical emergencies during flights.
This unfortunate event is not unique and follows a similar incident two months prior when a 73-year-old British man perished during severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from London, England. The man, Geoffrey Kitchen, is believed to have suffered a heart attack when the plane suddenly dropped mid-flight.
In a related incident in June, a young girl of eight years lost her life on a SkyWest Airlines flight to Chicago, Illinois due to a medical emergency. Additionally, in January, a passenger on a Jet2 flight from Tenerife, Canary Islands to Manchester, England passed away mid-flight, leading to an emergency diversion to Cork, Ireland.
Although the aviation industry has established protocols for handling medical emergencies, these unpredictable incidents underscore the importance of preparedness. They also highlight the need for passengers to disclose any pre-existing health conditions to airlines before flying.