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.”
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
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.”