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The smooth Brussels Airlines flight from Brussels to Málaga turned into a nightmare when a passenger on board flight SN3735 flight got extremely sick. The aircraft, an Brussels Airlines A320 neo registration OO-SBC, took off from Brussels by 1:08 PM. This was an hour late departure skywards due to a cyber attack which halted some operations at Brussels Airport.
As they got into the air, things started to go from bad to worse when the passenger started to panic and the crew started the emergency procedures for the flight. The flight attendants and crew had started resuscitation procedures promptly but the passenger got worse and worse. At this point, the medical emergency was so severe the flight crew had to make the tough decision to divert to Toulouse in the southwest of France so that the passenger in need could get medical attention.
The moment the border of France was crossed, the aircraft took a smooth turn toward Toulouse from the border region while emergency services had already been notified. The plane touched down at about 2:45 in the afternoon and passengers and crew were prepared, to make the attempt at an emergency life sustaining treatment and for those on the boxing order to board with beating hearts ready. Unfortunately, in the attempt at the emergency life sustaining treatment, both on air and ground, the passenger had died the moment the plane touched down.
The family of the deceased passenger has been shown respect and the name has been kept secret by the airline for the time being. The family is currently going through a tough time.
Brussels Airlines was professional in the way the situation was being handled. There was a delay, after the medical emergency was solved, the plane released Toulouse for Malaga at 1632 hrs. The plane was still able to reach the final destination at 1759 hrs, and the total delay was just over 3 hours.
While rare in nature medical emergencies pose as a difficult problem to solve for airlines. The airline staff goes through strict training in which they prepare for anything, even the most extreme of situations. The decision to divert to Toulouse was tough, but was made with the intent to offer the passenger the most premium service possible. Flight crews go through a difficult training which requires them to deal with intricate medical situations and make tough decisions.
Brussels Airlines, along with other airlines, carries defibrillators, and first-aid kits on board, which helps alleviate the risk of injuries and other emergencies. If situations occur, the cabin crew works side by side with medical personnel on the ground who offer instructions and assistance. Unfortunately, there are cases, like this one, that resources and help are still not enough to avoid a fatal conclusion.
The diversion and the medical emergency which ensued, also underlined the importance of airports like Toulouse-Blagnac. Their medical personnel and facilities designed to assist the aircraft in emergency landings allow responsive and effective assistance. If this level of readiness was absent, the management of the emergency and the aircraft would be a greater challenge.
There will doubtlessly be emotional consequences that impact the passengers as a whole, due to the sad reality of a member no longer aboard the plane. The crew, however, executed their part with great professionalism. The plane, along with all the passengers, was safe despite the delay which was simply part of the reality of the situation. The crew along with the first responders on the ground made the passengers feel safe, which is arguably the most important thing.
Brussels Airlines still hasn’t said anything publicly about the incident and for the time being decided to forgo all public statements in the interest of the deceased passenger’s family. Hushing up and avoiding sensitive information about sensitive topics and avoiding information is the norm. We guess the airline will continue providing all the necessary assistance to the crew and passengers.
To conclude, the medical emergency of flight SN3735 is another case that reveals the unpredictability of air travel and the need for preparedness. The death of the passenger is truly unfortunate, but it did serve as some encouragement for the gapless response of the crew plus the emergency personnel in Toulouse who underscore the need for systems plus training for such cases. Protective actions taken during such cases whilst flight delays serve the highest consideration.
