A passenger on Delta Flight DL54 travelling
from Atlanta to Lagos on Monday died onboard.
The airlines’ crew, according to
the airlines, found the deceased unresponsive before landing.
from Atlanta to Lagos on Monday died onboard.
The airlines’ crew, according to
the airlines, found the deceased unresponsive before landing.
The development, however, caused other passengers to be delayed onboard
for about two hours and unable to disembark after arriving at Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos.
The delay, it was learnt, was to enable medical
officials evacuate the deceased passenger.
officials evacuate the deceased passenger.
Delta, in a statement, said local medical professionals met the plane
upon arrival and confirmed the passenger had sadly passed away.
upon arrival and confirmed the passenger had sadly passed away.
“Delta extends its deepest condolences to the family at this sad
time. As a matter of passenger privacy, Delta will not release additional
information,” the statement read in part.
time. As a matter of passenger privacy, Delta will not release additional
information,” the statement read in part.
The passenger died in the airplane during the about 12 hours
flight between the carrier’s base in Atlanta in the United States and Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
flight between the carrier’s base in Atlanta in the United States and Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Sources closed to the airline said it is
unprofessional to disclose the identity of the passenger without informing the
family.
unprofessional to disclose the identity of the passenger without informing the
family.
According to a source at the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport, the airport clinic was alerted of the incident about an hour before
the arrival of the flight.
Airport, the airport clinic was alerted of the incident about an hour before
the arrival of the flight.
The flight, it was gathered, landed on the runway of
the airport at exactly 3:34 p.m.
the airport at exactly 3:34 p.m.
When the aircraft landed, it was gathered that the officials of
the airport clinic proceeded on board the aircraft to ascertain the condition
of the passenger.
the airport clinic proceeded on board the aircraft to ascertain the condition
of the passenger.
The source explained that the medical team of the airport met
with another doctor, a passenger aboard the aircraft simply identified as
Lawal, who confirmed the sick passenger was dead before arriving the country.
with another doctor, a passenger aboard the aircraft simply identified as
Lawal, who confirmed the sick passenger was dead before arriving the country.
The onboard doctor was alleged to have said: “The passenger was in
a confused state, and could only say his first name (Felix) before he collapsed
and was confirmed dead at 8:17 a.m. in flight.”
a confused state, and could only say his first name (Felix) before he collapsed
and was confirmed dead at 8:17 a.m. in flight.”
The source stated further that at the airport, the head of the
airport clinic also ascertained and confirmed the passenger dead in the
presence of the station manager of the airline, Mr. Omeiza, senior aviation
security officers and other senior staff of the Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN).
airport clinic also ascertained and confirmed the passenger dead in the
presence of the station manager of the airline, Mr. Omeiza, senior aviation
security officers and other senior staff of the Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN).
It was gathered that a FAAN ambulance was brought to evacuate the
body at exactly 4:59 p.m. but as of the time of filing this report, the body was
still at the base station awaiting the necessary documentation and arrival of
family members before evacuation to the morgue.
body at exactly 4:59 p.m. but as of the time of filing this report, the body was
still at the base station awaiting the necessary documentation and arrival of
family members before evacuation to the morgue.
The Guardian
