ETIHAD airways had a horror weekend
after fog delayed flights at Abu Dhabi airport leaving passengers
stranded on the tarmac for 13 hours and the death of a man on-board.
Passengers on flight EY23 from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf, Germany were kept on the tarmac for 13 hours on Saturday after heavy fog forced the closure of the runway causing chaos and severe delays. It was then forced to make an emergency landing after the death of one its passengers on-board.
The airline released the following statement to Khaleej Times:
“Etihad Airways experienced unprecedented levels of flight disruption on Saturday following the closure of Abu Dhabi airport due to fog in the early hours of the morning. EY23 to Dusseldorf was one of the flights most affected by the runway closure and the subsequent congestion and delays, which impacted all airlines.
“During the time on the ground, awaiting permission to takeoff, Etihad Airways provided passengers with refreshments and information about the reasons for the delay.”
READ: Etihad passengers made to wait 12 hours on the tarmac
However after finally taking off the Dusseldorf bound flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Vienna when a 73-year-old male passenger died mid-flight.
“After keeping passengers on the plane for more than 13 hours last night, flight EY23 to Dusseldorf has just diverted to Vienna with a passenger receiving CPR from the crew,” said a passenger, in an email to The National.
On Sunday, an Etihad Airways spokesman confirmed the death of one of its passengers.
“Etihad Airways flight EY23 from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf was diverted to Vienna on Saturday, January 3, 2015, due to an on-board medical emergency involving a 73-year old male passenger. A medical team met the aircraft upon landing to assist the passenger on-board. However, he was pronounced deceased,” the spokesman said.
“We offer our deepest condolences to his family. Hotel accommodation has been arranged for other guests on-board the flight and alternative transportation is being arranged between Vienna and Dusseldorf for tomorrow.”
A passenger on-board told The National how she and her husband helped treat the man at the flight attendants request.
Kim Bekelaar, 28, a Dutch resident neurologist at Maastricht University, said she and her husband provided medical advice to the crew.
“When we found him on the chair, he was still breathing, but when we put him on the floor he was just gasping for breath and breathing insufficiently,” she said. “He had no pulse, no circulation.”
As per Etihad’s policy, only crew members can perform CPR who worked on resuscitating the man until the plane landed in Vienna.
“The crew said it’s their policy to keep on resuscitating, and I think that’s good,” said Ms Bekelaar, who reported that crew members and other passengers were distressed by the situation.
The plane finally landed in Dusseldorf 30 hours after its scheduled arrival time.
Etihad has promised to review its procedures during extensive delays with another Etihad flight bound for San Francisco leaving passengers on the Abu Dhabi tarmac for 12 hours.
“Etihad mobilised more than 500 additional staff at the airport and city locations over the weekend to assist guests stuck in Abu Dhabi. We served more than 15,000 meals to guests at the airport, and provided more than 2,000 hotel rooms across the city.
“We are to review our policies on the length of time aircraft can remain on the ground, with passengers aboard, while waiting for a takeoff slot.
“Whilst the departure of guests to their onward destinations was a priority over the weekend, we acknowledge customer concerns and commit to a review of our procedures as soon as is feasible.”
Passengers on flight EY23 from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf, Germany were kept on the tarmac for 13 hours on Saturday after heavy fog forced the closure of the runway causing chaos and severe delays. It was then forced to make an emergency landing after the death of one its passengers on-board.
The airline released the following statement to Khaleej Times:
“Etihad Airways experienced unprecedented levels of flight disruption on Saturday following the closure of Abu Dhabi airport due to fog in the early hours of the morning. EY23 to Dusseldorf was one of the flights most affected by the runway closure and the subsequent congestion and delays, which impacted all airlines.
“During the time on the ground, awaiting permission to takeoff, Etihad Airways provided passengers with refreshments and information about the reasons for the delay.”
The Etihad plane bound for Dusseldorf, Germany was stranded at Abu Dhabi for 13 hours.
Source: AFP
READ: Etihad passengers made to wait 12 hours on the tarmac
However after finally taking off the Dusseldorf bound flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Vienna when a 73-year-old male passenger died mid-flight.
“After keeping passengers on the plane for more than 13 hours last night, flight EY23 to Dusseldorf has just diverted to Vienna with a passenger receiving CPR from the crew,” said a passenger, in an email to The National.
On Sunday, an Etihad Airways spokesman confirmed the death of one of its passengers.
“Etihad Airways flight EY23 from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf was diverted to Vienna on Saturday, January 3, 2015, due to an on-board medical emergency involving a 73-year old male passenger. A medical team met the aircraft upon landing to assist the passenger on-board. However, he was pronounced deceased,” the spokesman said.
“We offer our deepest condolences to his family. Hotel accommodation has been arranged for other guests on-board the flight and alternative transportation is being arranged between Vienna and Dusseldorf for tomorrow.”
A passenger on-board told The National how she and her husband helped treat the man at the flight attendants request.
Kim Bekelaar, 28, a Dutch resident neurologist at Maastricht University, said she and her husband provided medical advice to the crew.
“When we found him on the chair, he was still breathing, but when we put him on the floor he was just gasping for breath and breathing insufficiently,” she said. “He had no pulse, no circulation.”
Passengers on-board another delayed
Etihad Flight, EY 183 bound for San Francisco, were stuck on the tarmac
for 12 hours. Picture: Rithvik Reddy / AP
Source: AP
“The crew said it’s their policy to keep on resuscitating, and I think that’s good,” said Ms Bekelaar, who reported that crew members and other passengers were distressed by the situation.
The plane finally landed in Dusseldorf 30 hours after its scheduled arrival time.
Etihad has promised to review its procedures during extensive delays with another Etihad flight bound for San Francisco leaving passengers on the Abu Dhabi tarmac for 12 hours.
“Etihad mobilised more than 500 additional staff at the airport and city locations over the weekend to assist guests stuck in Abu Dhabi. We served more than 15,000 meals to guests at the airport, and provided more than 2,000 hotel rooms across the city.
“We are to review our policies on the length of time aircraft can remain on the ground, with passengers aboard, while waiting for a takeoff slot.
“Whilst the departure of guests to their onward destinations was a priority over the weekend, we acknowledge customer concerns and commit to a review of our procedures as soon as is feasible.”
No comments:
Post a Comment