A tragic mid-air medical emergency on an Air India Express flight resulted in the death of a one-year-old infant on Tuesday evening. The flight, bound for Bengaluru from Jaipur, was forced to make an emergency landing at Indore airport after the child suffered a severe health crisis.
In-Flight Crisis and Emergency Response
The child, identified as Mohammad Ajlan, was travelling with his parents and elder brother when he suddenly began struggling to breathe mid-flight. As his condition rapidly deteriorated, the cabin crew declared a mid-air crisis and made an urgent announcement seeking immediate medical assistance from any qualified passenger onboard.
Fortunately, a doctor was travelling on the same flight and stepped forward to help. The medical professional began performing continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the aircraft cabin in a desperate attempt to stabilise the infant. Simultaneously, the flight pilot coordinated with air traffic control (ATC) to secure permission for an emergency diversion to the nearest airport.
Emergency Landing and Rush to Hospital
The aircraft successfully landed at Indore airport at approximately 7:50 pm. Authorities had already declared a medical emergency on the tarmac, ensuring a swift response. Airport doctors immediately met the aircraft upon landing.
These doctors took over the life-saving efforts, continuing CPR on the child before rushing him to a nearby hospital using a standby ambulance. The infant was first taken to an initial medical facility but was subsequently referred to Dolphin Hospital for more specialised treatment.
Tragic Outcome and Suspected Cause
Despite the concerted efforts of the onboard doctor, the airport medical team, and the hospital staff, the one-year-old boy could not be saved. Doctors at Dolphin Hospital declared the child dead on arrival.
A medical official involved in the case later stated a suspected cause for the sudden deterioration. "It is suspected that the child's condition deteriorated because of aspiration (as milk or liquid entered his respiratory tract), causing a fatal obstruction," the official explained. This highlights the critical and sudden nature of such medical emergencies, especially involving infants.
The incident underscores the challenges of handling acute medical situations in the confined environment of an aircraft, despite the availability of trained crew and prompt emergency protocols.
