Passenger dies on Kenya Airways plane

A 66-year-old passenger travelling on Kenya Airways flight from New York to Nairobi died while en route to South Africa. 

Through a statement, KQ claimed that the aforementioned passenger became ill in the mid-air, necessitating a medical emergency landing in Casablanca, Morocco on aircraft KQ003. 

“On arrival in Casablanca, medical personnel at the airport found the passenger unresponsive and was confirmed to have passed away,” said Kenya Airways. 

Early this week the KQ flight was scheduled to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 10:32 am. 

However, because of the incident and subsequent rerouting, the flight arrived in Nairobi after 7 pm instead. 

The airline has so far conveyed a statement of sympathy to the passenger’s family and friends. 

Additionally, it expressed regret for the distress to the passengers. 

“We sincerely regret to our other visitors for the inconvenience and offer our sympathies to the deceased’s family and friends,” the statement read. 

The man’s family picked him up at the airport and transported him to Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home on Mbagathi Way, which is next to the Kenya Defense Forces Memorial Hospital (now known as Raila Odinga Road). 

After it was determined that he had died in Morocco, the body of the deceased was wrapped, packaged, and flown on a KQ aircraft as a cargo. 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines states that when death occurs onboard, one is to inform the captain right away so that they can follow business protocol to notify the destination airport so that the appropriate authority can meet the flight. 

If possible, move the person to a seat where there aren’t many other people sitting close. 

Put the passenger back in his or her own seat if the plane is already full, or, at the crew’s discretion, place them in another space that doesn’t block an aisle or an exit. 

When relocating the person, exercise additional caution and consider how tough the scenario will be for the person’s companions and bystanders.