Death of a 42-year-old passenger on board a Lagos to Mumbai Air India flight has raised several questions on the checks conducted at the airports amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quoting unnamed sources, India Today reported that the passenger was shivering inside the flight and inquiry the passenger told that he was suffering from malaria.
“Since he was having difficulty in breathing, the crew of the flight also provided him oxygen masks,” the report further added.
“However, the passenger failed to recover and he collapsed and died. He was also bleeding from his mouth,” the report added.
Air India, however, has denied reports stating that the passenger had a fever and said he died of “natural causes”.
“A passenger aboard AI1906 of June 13, 2020, from Lagos to Mumbai passed away due to natural causes today,” said an Air India statement.
“A doctor on board along with our crew, who are trained to handle such medical emergencies, made a valiant attempt to revive the pax, aged 42, who had suddenly collapsed, through resuscitation etc but all their efforts went in vain. He was declared dead on board by the attending doctor,” the statement added.
“The MIAL doctors attended to the pax after the flight landed and after all the procedures were complete, the body was sent to a hospital as per protocol,” it further said.
“Relatives of the deceased were informed and aircraft have taken for full fumigation as per norms,” it added.
However, following the incident, questions are raised regarding airport checks as to how the passenger with fever was allowed to board the flight.
