It was supposed to be a routine flight from London to Nice, but it turned out to be a tragic one for a 73-year-old woman who died on board. The incident happened on September 21, 2023, on flight BA 348, which departed from London Heathrow Airport at 7:20 p.m. local time. The flight was delayed by almost an hour due to technical issues, and passengers thought the elderly woman was resting during the journey. She was seated in the middle row, near the window, and appeared to be asleep. However, when the plane landed in Nice at 9:07 p.m. local time, she did not wake up. Other passengers alerted the cabin crew, who then called for emergency medical assistance.
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The medical team tried to resuscitate the woman, but she was pronounced dead around 10 p.m. local time. She was believed to have suffered a heart attack mid-flight. Her identity and nationality were not disclosed, nor whether she had any travel companions. British Airways issued a statement expressing their condolences to the woman's family and said they were unable to provide or confirm further details about the passenger.
The death of the woman shocked and saddened many people, especially those who were on the same flight. One passenger told The Connexion, an English language outlet in France, that it was a "very upsetting" experience and that he felt sorry for the woman and her relatives. Another passenger said that he noticed the woman was not moving when he got up to leave the plane, and that he thought she was just sleeping deeply.
Deaths during flights are rare but not unheard of events. According to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority, there is an average of one fatality for every 287 million passengers traveling with British airlines. Airlines have their own policies on how to deal with deceased passengers, but usually, they are strapped into their seats and covered by a blanket until the flight lands. Cabin crew are not medical professionals, so they cannot legally pronounce someone dead. This incident raises some questions about how airlines handle such situations and how they can prevent or detect them in advance. Some experts suggest that airlines should have more medical equipment and trained staff on board, as well as screening passengers for health risks before boarding³. Others argue that such measures are impractical and costly and that passengers should be responsible for their own health and well-being.