Air India flight diverted to Kolkata after passenger suffers heart attack; life-saving procedure performed
A 67-year-old Non-Resident Indian (NRI), who has lived in California for 37 years, survived a near-fatal heart attack aboard an Air India flight from San Francisco to New Delhi on August 23. The aircraft was diverted to Kolkata, where he was rushed to a private hospital and underwent an emergency cardiac procedure that saved his life. He was discharged two days later after making a steady recovery, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Quick CPR and emergency landing saved his life
After nearly 14 hours in the air, the passenger collapsed while walking back to his seat from the washroom. Fortunately, two doctors onboard immediately administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and revived him.
Since his condition remained unstable, the doctors advised immediate hospitalisation, prompting the flight’s diversion to Kolkata
At Charnock Hospital, an urgent coronary angiography revealed a critical narrowing of the left main artery of the heart — a condition often leading to sudden cardiac death. With the help of advanced intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), doctors identified and treated the blockage. Stents were placed in both the left main artery and the right coronary artery, which was also 90% blocked.
Timely intervention prevented sudden cardiac death
Dr. Tapobrata De, chief of cardiology at Charnock Hospital, who led the procedure, said, “Such cases often present with blackouts rather than chest pain, and without immediate CPR, survival chances are minimal. In this case, timely resuscitation and rapid medical intervention made all the difference.”
The case underscores the importance of CPR awareness and immediate medical attention during cardiac emergencies, especially in high-risk scenarios like long-haul flights.
