A Vietnam Airlines aircraft on a long-haul journey from Europe to Asia was forced to make an unscheduled priority landing at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Tuesday night. The diversion was prompted by a serious medical emergency involving a senior foreign passenger on board.
Mid-Air Crisis Over Indian Skies
The flight, carrying a total of 276 passengers, was en route from Frankfurt, Germany, to Hanoi, Vietnam. The situation turned critical when a 66-year-old German national, identified as Ludwig Manfred Buhler, fell severely ill. According to sources, Buhler's condition deteriorated dramatically during the flight, and he began experiencing convulsions, indicating a grave health crisis.
As the aircraft was flying over the skies of Varanasi, the pilot made the crucial decision to seek an emergency landing. The cockpit crew immediately contacted the Kolkata Air Traffic Control (ATC), informing them of the passenger's critical condition and requesting urgent permission to divert the plane for life-saving medical intervention.
Swift Response at Kolkata Airport
Upon receiving the distress call, Kolkata ATC and airport authorities swiftly coordinated to clear the path for the incoming aircraft. The plane was granted immediate priority to land. Once on the ground, airport doctors rushed to examine the ailing passenger.
Their preliminary assessment confirmed a medical nightmare: Buhler had suffered a severe brain haemorrhage. Given the critical nature of his condition, which required immediate neurosurgical intervention, he was promptly transferred from the airport. An ambulance rushed him to a private hospital located off the EM Bypass in Kolkata for emergency treatment.
Aftermath and International Coordination
Doctors at the private hospital confirmed the severity of the brain bleed and stated that the patient needed urgent surgery. Recognising the international dimension of the incident, the hospital authorities took steps to inform the German embassy in India about the situation involving their citizen.
The incident highlights the critical protocols followed by airlines and Indian aviation authorities when faced with in-flight medical emergencies. The swift actions of the Vietnam Airlines crew and the seamless coordination with Kolkata ATC likely played a pivotal role in getting the patient to advanced medical care within the crucial golden hour.
While the flight was delayed, the primary focus remained on saving a life, underscoring the paramount importance of passenger safety over all schedules. The remaining passengers continued their journey after the necessary formalities and refuelling were completed.
