A Saudia Airlines flight traveling from Jakarta, Indonesia to Madinah, Saudi Arabia made an unscheduled stop at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Sunday evening due to a passenger’s medical emergency. Flight SV 821, carrying 395 passengers and 18 crew members, requested an emergency landing after a passenger fell unconscious during the flight. The plane safely landed at approximately 7:00 pm, and the unwell passenger, identified as Lia Fatonah, a 37-year-old Indonesian national, was swiftly taken to Ananthapuri Hospital for medical attention.
Hospital officials confirmed that the passenger had complained of chest pain and is currently under evaluation in the emergency unit, undergoing tests including ECG and blood work. Following the medical incident, the flight resumed its journey to Madinah at around 8:30 pm.
In a separate recent event, an Air China flight traveling from Hangzhou to Incheon, South Korea, had to make an emergency landing on Saturday after a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on bag caught fire during the flight. The fire originated in a bag stored in the overhead compartment, prompting swift action from the cabin crew to contain the blaze, causing smoke in the cabin and alarming passengers. A video shared on social media captured flames and smoke emanating from the overhead bin.
It is unclear whether the lithium battery was part of an electronic device or a spare unit, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. The aircraft landed safely at Shanghai Pudong International Airport following the incident.
This occurrence follows China’s recent ban on certain portable lithium batteries on flights due to safety concerns raised by aviation authorities regarding the heightened fire risks associated with such batteries.