Ryanair flight descends into 'chaos' as passenger dies on board
Passengers described 'chaos' on a Ryanair flight to the UK after a man suffered a medical emergency mid-air and later died on board. The plane was flying from Tirana to Manchester Airport on Sunday evening (November 10), but had to suddenly divert to London Stansted.
An air ambulance, airport fire crews and medics surrounded the aircraft upon landing. The man was pronounced dead at the scene despite the best efforts from emergency services.
One passenger told of the traumatic scenes that unfolded on board after a man started 'having convulsions' before he was moved to the aisle to undergo CPR. "He stopped breathing and everything went into chaos," the witness told the MEN.
Read more: UK tourists in Greece will have to buy a ticket to visit beach under new 'law'
"A few of us with first aid training jumped in to help and started CPR while the defibrillator was set. Two air crew members and three passengers manged to keep doing CPR as instructed by the defibrillator for 25 minutes when we finally landed in emergency in London.
"The paramedics continued for another 30 minutes when we were all instructed to leave the plane. After about another hour, the ambulance was still there but we boarded again with a new air crew to continue the trip to Manchester, without the man and his friends.
"I asked and was told that, unfortunately, the man did not make it. I was devastated to learn the sad news."
London Stansted confirmed the flight diverted shortly before 8pm as the result of a medical emergency. A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "One ambulance, one Hazardous Area Response Team vehicle, one paramedic car and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance were called to Stansted Airport on Sunday evening following reports of man with a medical emergency on an aircraft.
"Sadly, despite the best efforts of all involved, the man had died at the scene." Ryanair was contacted for comment.