A Dhaka-bound flight of Saudi Arabian airlines made an emergency landing at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport on Thursday evening because of an inflight medical emergency. The flight that departed from Medina was diverted to Ahmedabad after a passenger reportedly suffered a heart attack.
The Medina-Dhaka flight, SVA 3802-A330, carrying 300 people landed at Ahmedabad airport at 7.10 pm after which the unwell passenger was rushed to hospital for treatment.
Confirming the incident, sources said: "As soon as the pilot of the aircraft intimated the Air Traffic Control (ATC) here, priority landing slot was given by the airport officials. The aircraft landed at 7.10 pm and an ambulance with a cardio specialist was waiting at parking Stand 36. As soon as the flight landed, the passenger was attended by the medicos. While the patient was still undergoing treatment in Ahmedabad, the aircraft departed for Dhaka."
The city has witnessed several diversions and emergency landings in the recent past. On March 30, a Delhi-bound Vistara flight carrying 151 passengers made an emergency landing after a technical snag was reported. On November 21, a Mumbai bound Jet Airways flight with 111 passengers made an emergency landing after the pilot spotted fire in the cargo. On September 30, a Delhi-bound Jet Airways flight from Mumbai was diverted to Ahmedabad after the pilot got a note which said hijackers were on board. On September 19, a Delhi-bound Spice Jet flight from Surat made an emergency landing here after the pilot noticed that the tail fire warning light was on.
