A Kolkata-bound AirAsia flight (2472), which was coming from Bengaluru, made an emergency landing at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) at Bhubaneswar on Sunday due to a medical emergency.
The flight made an emergency landing at around 7.56 am.
A flyer, identified as Taimur Ali Khan (33), a resident of Purba Mednipur in West Bengal, fell ill following which the flight was diverted to Bhubaneswar airport.
Khan was given medical treatment inside the flight and later with the coordination of ATC, ATM and Apollo doctors was shifted to Capital Hospital in the City in an ambulance.
However, Khan was declared dead by the doctors at the hospital, said reports.
“The flight was travelling from Bengaluru to Kolkata. However, a patient fell ill mid air and as per the procedure, the flight made emergency landing at Bhubaneswar airport, which was the nearest airfield,” informed Pravat Ranjan Beuria, Director of Bhubaneswar Airport.
“After the landing, ambulance and medical team including doctors and other staff which were kept ready at the airport shifted the patient to Capital Hospital. However, the patient was declared dead by the doctors at 8.52 am,” added Beuria.
The reason behind the death of Khan is yet to be ascertained, added reports.