January 19, 2004 at 10:25 pm
Three die on flights from Miami
Three people have died on planes from Miami to London in separate incidents over the past two days.
A woman and a man died on British Airways (BA) flight 208 on Sunday – the company said the deaths were not thought to be linked.
And a 19-year-old woman, who is thought to have had an existing medical condition, died just before a Virgin Atlantic flight landed on Monday.
BA said it was “incredibly rare” to have two deaths on the same flight.
Its plane made an unscheduled stop in Halifax, Canada, on Sunday after a female passenger became ill.
Suspected meningitis reported
She was met by paramedics from the plane but died later in hospital.
After the plane took to the air, a man became ill and witnesses said part of the passengers’ cabin was curtained off. He died shortly before landing at Heathrow Airport.
A BA spokesman said they could not confirm the passenger’s illness, but The Guardian newspaper reported he had suspected meningitis.
On Monday a 19-year-old woman died shortly before landing at Heathrow, despite efforts to save her by a doctor and the cabin crew.
She boarded the flight with 291 other passengers on Sunday evening.
Police and paramedics met the flight and a post-mortem examination is being carried out.
By: EAL_KING - 20th January 2004 at 10:41
ye it parked at a remote stand and the doctor gave them the all clear
By: Bmused55 - 20th January 2004 at 08:23
Originally posted by Ren Frew
Meningitis on an airliner of all things is not funny at all. Have they checked out all the other passengers ?
Standard procedure is to meet the aircraft with a team of secuirty personel and ambulance crews. They wait till a doctor checks out any suspected cases. Once satisfied everyone can get off, but with instructions to go for checks ups.
Unfortunately, there is no test that can be administered aboard the aircraft to detect meningitis. The only clue doctors have is when symptoms arise.
By: Ren Frew - 19th January 2004 at 23:49
Meningitis on an airliner of all things is not funny at all. Have they checked out all the other passengers ?
By: Deano - 19th January 2004 at 23:17
I must admit Steve, I laughed at your comment although it absolutely is not funny
Scary though isnt it, being packed into a plane when one of the px has suspected meningitis etc :S
D.
By: tenthije - 19th January 2004 at 23:16
nope, captain Oveur ate all the fish!
By: steve rowell - 19th January 2004 at 23:04
Must of had the fish