Recently, a 17-year-old passenger died while on a flight from Juba, South Sudan to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi.
The passenger is said to have been unwell and was accompanied by his elder brother, as the passenger was to seek treatment at a city hospital.
The pilot of the private airline told police the passenger died airborne.
This is not the first incidence where cases of deaths have been reported on planes, and cabin crews have always handled the matter in the best way.
It is reported that once every 800 flights, an emergency occurs, and in most cases, issues of respiratory problems, fainting, nausea, or vomiting were reported.
What happens in such incidents?
One would think the pilot would immediately conduct an emergency landing to handle the matter at hand, but that is not the case.
According to the International Air Transport Association, it is recommended that the crew members first perform a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) test on the passenger for at least 40 minutes. If a doctor is on the plane, the better.
If a heartbeat is felt or the passenger breathes during the test, then the process can stop. If no traces of such, then the passenger is presumed dead.
The crew goes ahead to inform the pilot who calls the team that offers medical assistance from the ground for preparations upon landing.
Here, depending on where the passenger sat, it is recommended that they are moved to areas with few passengers or taken to business class.
If the flight is full, the crew members cover the passenger from head to toe and close their eyes while in an upright position. The body is held by the seatbelt and other equipment to hold the body in place until landing.
Upon arrival at the destination, it is advisable for the rest of the passengers to alight first, and the deceased stays back with anyone that was traveling with them for further instructions.
