United Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Athens After Passenger Dies

ATHENS- A United Airlines (UA) flight from Newark (EWR), United States to Dubai made an emergency landing at Athens International Airport (ATH) after a passenger experienced serious health issues during the journey.

The aircraft diverted to Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos airport (ATH) while flying south of Crete when crew members became concerned about a passenger’s condition, ultimately resulting in the passenger’s death shortly after landing.

Photo: Athul Suresh/ An Airsidean

United Flight Medical Emergency

The incident occurred on United Airlines Flight UA977, operated on aircraft N2140U. While cruising over the Mediterranean south of Crete, the flight crew declared a medical emergency after a passenger experienced severe health complications.

Despite the swift decision to divert and request priority landing clearance at Athens International Airport (ATH), medical assistance came too late for the passenger, who was pronounced deceased shortly after the aircraft touched down.

According to ACARS messages from the aircraft, medical equipment including a defibrillator was utilized during the emergency.

The flight crew performed CPR with assistance from a passenger with medical knowledge, demonstrating remarkable coordination during the crisis situation.

Photo: By Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK – Boeing 777-300ER ‘N2639U’ United Airlines, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81690305

Operational Response and Continuation

Following the emergency landing, ground personnel removed the deceased passenger and accompanying family members from the aircraft.

The flight crew then conducted a comprehensive safety assessment, including an overweight landing checklist and inventory of used medical equipment to ensure flight readiness for continuation to Dubai.

The aircraft had to undergo specific post-emergency protocols, including AED restoration procedures and the replacement of used medical supplies.

According to ACARS message logs, maintenance teams were required to “DIP TO REPLACE USED AED WITHIN 5 FLIGHT CYCLES,” indicating critical equipment restoration requirements.

Passengers aboard the flight reported that United Airlines staff handled the situation professionally.

One passenger who witnessed the events expressed appreciation for the crew’s management of the emergency while extending condolences to the deceased passenger’s family.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Similar Incident

A United Airlines flight from Bogotá, Colombia (BOG) to Houston, Texas (IAH) made an emergency landing in Cancún, Mexico (CUN) on December 9, 2023, following the death of a male passenger onboard.

Flight UA206, which departed at approximately 1:30 a.m., faced a medical emergency while most passengers were sleeping.

According to a secondhand account from a family member who witnessed the events, the deceased was traveling with a large family group that had been conversing happily prior to the flight. The passenger began experiencing what appeared to be labored breathing during sleep, making noticeable sounds that alerted the cabin crew.

Flight attendants turned on the cabin lights and issued an announcement requesting medical assistance from any doctors onboard. Several physicians responded to the call and initiated CPR efforts, indicating the passenger had stopped breathing.

The aircraft diverted to Cancún for emergency medical assistance, leading many passengers to believe the man was still alive and would receive hospital treatment upon landing.

However, the passenger had already died, though this information was only known to nearby travelers and family members. The deceased remained in his seat covered completely with a white cloth due to the full flight capacity.

Mexican authorities boarded the plane in Cancún and officially pronounced the man dead. According to the witness account, airline staff mentioned regulations that prohibit declaring death officially while on a flight.

Disembarkation proceeded with regular passengers leaving first while the deceased and his family remained onboard. Following passenger removal, flight attendants were observed placing small amounts of white powder on each seat and the floor spaces, including areas near restrooms, presumably as part of sanitization protocols in preparation for subsequent flights.

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