UAE passenger's body arrives in India after emergency landing in Pakistan

Dubai - The flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Pakistan after the passenger suffered a medical emergency.

The mortal remains of an Indian passenger, who died mid-flight on an IndiGo Airlines flight from Sharjah to Lucknow, was flown from Pakistan to India on Tuesday morning.

The flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, after the passenger suffered a medical emergency.

Airline sources confirmed that the passenger’s mortal remains was flown back to India on the same day. Indian media reports identified the passenger as Habibur Rahman.

An official statement from the airline to Khaleej Times said, “IndiGo flight 6E 1412 from Sharjah to Lucknow was diverted to Karachi due to a medical emergency. Unfortunately, the passenger could not be revived and was declared dead on arrival by the airport medical team.”

“We are deeply saddened with the news and our prayers and wishes are with his family.” The airline official told Khaleej Times from India, “We believe the passenger was aged 57, and was a citizen of India. He collapsed after suffering a severe asthma attack. However, Covid-19 has been ruled out as he was carrying a negative PCR report,” it added.

A PCR report has been made mandatory for all passengers travelling from UAE to India.

Meanwhile, an official of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority said the landing permission was granted to the Captain of the Lucknow-bound IndiGo flight 6E1412 after an elderly passenger fell seriously ill.

“The passenger unfortunately expired on the plane even though the Indian aircraft was given permission to land at the Karachi airport,” the official said.