On Friday, March 15, 2024, an EVA Air flight, BR67, was compelled to make an emergency landing. The flight was en route from Bangkok, Thailand to Heathrow Airport in London, England.
The unexpected landing was due to a male passenger being found attempting suicide in the airplane’s bathroom, which prompted an immediate response from the flight crew and onboard medical personnel.
As the Boeing 777 prepared for landing at Heathrow Airport, all passengers were instructed to exit the lavatories and fasten their seatbelts. During this time, the flight crew performed a routine check and discovered a man in severe condition with life-threatening injuries in one of the bathrooms. Quick medical intervention was provided by the flight attendants and an off-duty paramedic on board, Gareth Lines, 36, from Portsmouth. The man, whose identity is being withheld, was stabilized with CPR and quickly taken to a hospital after the plane landed.
According to FlightAware, a flight tracking app, the aircraft arrived at Heathrow Airport at 7:03 p.m. local time, 17 minutes ahead of schedule.
EVA Air issued a statement about the incident: “During the descent of flight BR67 from Bangkok to London Heathrow on March 15th, a passenger was discovered in a state implying a suicide attempt in one of the lavatories. Our cabin crew and a passenger with medical training responded promptly, delivering immediate first aid. Upon arrival in London, medical staff took the passenger for further care, and the incident has been referred to the police for further investigation.”
Reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety and health, EVA Air, one of Taiwan’s premier airlines, acknowledged the incident. This serious event underscores the airline’s commitment to the welfare of its passengers, a priority that resonates throughout the aviation industry.
Passengers on the flight provided accounts of the intense moments before the emergency landing. They spoke of the anxiety that permeated the cabin as the crew members swiftly responded, underscoring the impact such incidents have on all those onboard. Upon safe landing, the passenger in distress was able to receive crucial medical attention.
Lines, the paramedic who assisted in saving the passenger’s life, stated that the plane was equipped with necessary medical equipment such as an automated defibrillator, and he requested oxygen from the crew.
Lines said, “Without medication, there was little else we could do. The passenger experienced cardiac arrest for 30 minutes, and then, 15 minutes after the arrival of the London ambulance team.”
The man was taken to a hospital where his heart started to beat again.
