Kerala nurses perform CPR at 35,000 feet after passenger suffers cardiac arrest on Air Arabia flight from Kochi to Abu Dhabi
Two Indian nurses have been hailed as heroes for saving the life of a fellow passenger who suffered a cardiac arrest during their flight to Abu Dhabi. The dramatic mid-air rescue took place on October 13, aboard an Air Arabia flight from Kochi, where Abhijith Jees and Ajeesh Nelson, both from Kerala, were travelling on their first-ever international journey to begin new nursing careers in the UAE, reported indianexpress.com.
According to Abhijith, the incident began when he heard a faint gasping sound from a nearby seat. “When I looked, I saw a man unresponsive. I checked his pulse, but there was none. I knew he was in cardiac arrest,” he recalled. The 34-year-old passenger, also from Thrissur, Kerala, had collapsed suddenly mid-air.
Abhijith immediately began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) while alerting the cabin crew. His colleague Ajeesh joined in, and together, the duo performed two rounds of CPR until the passenger regained a pulse and began breathing again. “There was no panic,” said Ajeesh. “We just focused on what had to be done.”
Abhijith and Ajeesh performed CPR mid-flight, reviving the passenger before landing — earning praise from their new UAE employer
A doctor on board, Dr. Arif Abdul Khadir, also assisted the two nurses, helping stabilise the patient with IV fluids and close monitoring until the aircraft landed safely in Abu Dhabi.
The passenger was handed over to airport medical staff and later reported to be in stable condition. His family expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “They were strangers to us, yet they gave our loved one another chance at life. Their kindness and courage will always stay in our prayers.”
Both Abhijith and Ajeesh had recently joined Response Plus Medical (RPM) — part of Response Plus Holding, the UAE’s largest emergency and onsite medical service provider. The company recognised their heroic act after learning of the incident from a fellow passenger.
RPM’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Rohil Raghavan, commended the duo, stating, “They have shown the true spirit of RPM by saving a patient outside the hospital environment. The RPM family salutes their great work.” Certificates of appreciation were presented to both nurses.
For Abhijith and Ajeesh, the experience was both humbling and unforgettable. “We came to the UAE to start our careers,” said Ajeesh. “Saving a life on the way made us realise what this profession truly means.” Abhijith added, “That morning in the sky will stay with us forever.”
