A one-year-old boy died on Tuesday evening after suffering a severe medical emergency aboard a Bengaluru-bound Air India Express flight from Jaipur, which was forced to make an emergency landing at Indore airport, officials confirmed.
The infant, Mohammad Ajlan, was travelling with his parents and elder brother when he suddenly developed breathing difficulties mid-flight. As his condition rapidly worsened, the situation was declared a “mid-air medical crisis”, prompting the flight crew to seek immediate medical assistance onboard.
Doctor performs CPR mid-air
A doctor travelling on the flight promptly responded and began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) inside the aircraft cabin. Simultaneously, the pilot coordinated with air traffic control to divert the flight for an emergency landing at Indore.
According to officials, the aircraft landed at Indore airport at around 7.50 pm, where a medical emergency had already been declared on the tarmac. A team of airport doctors boarded the aircraft immediately and continued CPR efforts.
Rushed to hospital, declared dead
The child was shifted in a standby ambulance to a nearby medical facility and later referred to Dolphin Hospital for specialised treatment. However, doctors at the hospital declared the infant brought dead.
A medical official said the preliminary assessment suggested aspiration as the possible cause of death. “It is suspected that milk or liquid entered the child’s respiratory tract, leading to obstruction and a rapid deterioration in his condition,” the official stated.
Swift response by crew and authorities
Officials said the flight crew followed emergency protocols swiftly, coordinating with medical professionals and airport authorities to ensure immediate care upon landing. Despite sustained resuscitation efforts both in the air and on the ground, the child could not be revived.
The incident has cast a pall over the passengers and crew, highlighting the unpredictable nature of medical emergencies during air travel, especially involving infants.
Airline authorities are expected to submit a detailed report to aviation regulators, while police said no foul play was suspected.