Anemic Child, Whose Illness Was Kept Under Wraps, Dies Mid-Flight From Heart Attack

An aircraft in India announced a mid-air emergency after a seven-year-old girl suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.

The child, identified as Ayushi Punvasi Prajapati, was traveling from the northern Indian city of Lucknow to Mumbai on a GoAir flight with her father when her condition deteriorated. The aircraft was diverted and a priority medical landing was declared.

As soon as the flight landed, the girl was rushed to the hospital where she was declared dead on arrival by the doctors.

Confirming the news, the airline spokesperson said, "GoAir staff immediately attended to the passenger and administered required procedures while ensuring all relevant protocols were followed. Priority landing was sought, and the flight landed safely with passengers at Nagpur airport."

"On arrival, a dedicated medical service team along with doctors and the airline’s staff attended to the passenger, and she was rushed to a nearby hospital. However, it was observed by the doctor that the passenger had succumbed. The airline had taken utmost care and rendered all the required assistance to the family of the bereaved. GoAir sincerely regrets the incident and would like to convey its deepest, heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased," the spokesperson added, local daily the Hindustan Times reported.

As soon as the girl and her father were deboarded, the flight took off to the destination.

Local reports stated that the girl was anemic and was going to Mumbai for treatment. The father had allegedly not disclosed the girl’s medical history with the airport staff before the flight took off.

"She was anemic. The father had not disclosed this, else he would not have been allowed to board the flight. Patients below 8 to 10 gms of hemoglobin are not permitted air journeys. Ayushi’s record showed she had just 2.5 gms. They were going for treatment to Mumbai," an official told local daily the Times of India.

"She had some underlying diseases. But it may not be found out through post mortem. The viscera has been preserved. Sudden death can be attributed to cardiac arrest at the moment. The death is natural," another official told the newspaper.