A 72-year-old male passenger travelling on an IndiGo Airlines flight from Ghaziabad to Chennai collapsed mid-air, prompting an emergency landing in Nagpur. Despite immediate medical assistance, the passenger was declared brought dead after being rushed to hospital.
Medical emergency onboard
According to airport and hospital officials, the passenger, a resident of Chennai, complained of uneasiness during the flight. A doctor who was travelling on the aircraft promptly administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an effort to stabilise him.
Following the medical emergency, the pilot sought clearance for an emergency landing at Nagpur at around 5 pm.
Swift response after landing
Authorities said that a full medical emergency response team, along with an ambulance, was placed on standby at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport even before the aircraft touched down.
After an initial assessment, the passenger was shifted to KIMS-Kingsway Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The body was later sent to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for further formal procedures.
Hospital officials confirmed that the passenger had a known history of cardiac ailments.
Why Nagpur is a preferred emergency landing point
A senior medical official at GMCH confirmed the death and noted that Nagpur frequently handles emergency landings, particularly medical cases. Owing to its central geographical location, Nagpur serves as the nearest diversion airport for flights operating on north–south and east–west routes.
Aviation sources said the city’s international airport status and round-the-clock medical preparedness make it a critical hub for handling in-flight emergencies. In 2021, a Bangladesh aircraft had also made an emergency landing in Nagpur after its pilot suffered a heart attack.