Pilot dies moments before take-off as he collapses of sudden heart attack while passing through boarding gate
A YOUNG pilot fell ill and died suddenly moments before a routine flight from Pune from Nagpur airport, officials have said.
Captain Manoj Subramanyam, 40, reportedly collapsed at the boarding gate and was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The pilot was scheduled to operate the flight the day after completing two early morning flights, according to IndiGo.
Airport workers came to his assistance and administered CPR to Captain Subramanyam, but it was too late.
Preliminary reports from the hospital suggest the captain suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
IndiGo Airlines wrote in a statement: “We are saddened at the passing of one of our pilots in Nagpur earlier today.
“He became unwell at Nagpur airport and was rushed to the hospital where he unfortunately passed away.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.”
Subramanyam’s body was be sent for a post-mortem examination but has since been released to his familky.
Due to the incident, the scheduled flight experienced a delay of 15 minutes before taking off.
The shocking incident comes as another pilot collapsed and died in a toilet onboard a Boeing 787.
Ivan Andaur, 56, was flying flight LA505 from Miami International Airport to Santiago, Chile, when he began to feel ill.
His two co-pilots were forced to make an emergency landing at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City.
Paramedics boarded the plane to provide medical assistance but Andaur was pronounced dead.
A nurse, only known as Isadora on social media, said she tried to revive Andaur, along with another nurse and two doctors, while the plane was landing after he suffered symptoms related to cardiac arrest.
She said that while they and the crew did their best to help him, Isadora said they didn’t have the “necessary or sufficient supplies” to resuscitate him.
Isadora said: “Unfortunately, we did not have the necessary or sufficient supplies to perform a good resuscitation.
“There LATAM needs to improve the issue of protocol in case of health and medical emergencies like this where lives can be saved but the resources are needed.”
Sky Airline captain Paula Mandini paid tribute to Andaur in a Facebook post.
She said: “I have many memories of flights, conversations and so many things… I have a giant lump in my throat.
“I only hope that you are with your Vero and from heaven you give strength to your daughter. Fly high!”