Mangaluru (TNN): An alert Air India pilot saved the life of a Russian passenger after he made an emergency landing at Mangaluru International Airport.
It happened last Tuesday when Artur Izotov (47) suffered a stroke mid-air on flight A1668. The AI plane was on its way to Mumbai from Thiruvananthapuram. Izotov was to go from Mumbai to Goa the same day.
"The captain decided to make an emergency landing at 2.02pm after understanding the gravity of the situation," Air India said.
Air India station manager Nagesh Shetty told TOI: "All medical emergency requirements including an ambulance and a doctor were kept ready. After the A1668 landed the doctor visited the aircraft and examined the passenger. He was taken out in a wheelchair and shifted to an ambulance at 2.08pm."
The aircraft with the remaining 94 passengers left at 2.30pm. Shetty accompanied Izotov to a city hospital in the ambulance.
Doctors who treated Izotov said he underwent several tests and was kept under observation for 24 hours. Air India staff coordinated with hospital authorities and sent his baggage to the hospital.
"Izotov is happy he has recovered," Shetty said. After he was discharged, Izotov chose to travel by train and left for Goa on Matsyagandha Express. The Russian national is now holidaying at a star hotel.
