A 66-year-old man from Moonak Khurd village in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district died of a heart attack while travelling on an international flight to Italy.
The deceased, Pargan Singh, had boarded an Air India flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Milan on February 16 along with his wife to visit their son after nearly 16 years.
Health scare before take-off
According to his son Gurjit Singh, the couple had initially boarded a flight on February 15. However, shortly after boarding, Pargan Singh fainted and was taken to a local hospital. Doctors reportedly described it as an anxiety attack and declared him fit to travel.
The following day, the couple resumed their journey. Soon after take-off, Singh began perspiring heavily and lost consciousness. Crew members attempted to provide emergency medical assistance on board, but he could not be revived.
The aircraft was en route to Milan when the tragedy occurred.
Son’s wait turns to grief
Gurjit Singh said he had been eagerly waiting at the airport in Italy to receive his parents for the first time in 16 years.
“I was ready with a bouquet to welcome them, but what I received was my father’s body,” he said.
He added that his father was not new to air travel and had previously worked in Dubai, travelling by flight on several occasions.
The body was later brought back to Moonak Khurd village, where the last rites were performed on Friday amid grief and shock among relatives and villagers.