Vietnam Airlines flight diverts to Kolkata over medical emergency
Dhaka: Vietnam Airlines Flight VN36 from Frankfurt to Hanoi diverted to Kolkata after a passenger suffered a brain hemorrhage mid-flight on Tuesday, January 6.
Media reports said nearly eight hours following the departure, when the flight was flying over Varanasi, a 66-year-old German national, Ludwig Manfred Buhler, showed signs of acute breathing distress.
The cabin crew provided first aid and oxygen promptly, but the condition didn't improve. Therefore, the pilots were instructed to perform an emergency landing.
The pilots evaluated possible diversion options with the best medical facilities, chose Kolkata Airport, and requested clearance from the Kolkata Air Traffic Control to perform an emergency landing.
Upon receiving the request, the ATC immediately cleared the flight for an emergency landing and facilitated emergency medical arrangements for the ailing passenger. The flight landed safely in Kolkata, and following an emergency health examination at the airport, the passenger was transferred to one of the nearest private hospitals.
The flight later took off from Kolkata at 5:30 local time and landed safely in Hanoi with the remaining passengers without any further incident.
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