Manipur doctor averts mid-air crisis on Air India Tokyo–Delhi flight

New Delhi/Imphal, April 2: A Manipur-based critical care specialist helped avert a potential mid-air crisis aboard an Air India flight from Tokyo to New Delhi, stabilising a young passenger in distress and preventing an emergency landing.

Dr. Loni Liriina, a consultant at the American Oncology Institute, Babina Specialty Hospital in Imphal, responded to an onboard call for medical assistance nearly eight hours into the 10-hour journey of Air India Flight AI357.

“About two hours before landing, an announcement was made seeking immediate medical assistance. When I went to check, the crew appeared to be in panic,” Dr. Liriina said.

The passenger, a young woman, complained of severe chest pain and breathlessness. An initial assessment indicated a rapid heart rate of around 160 beats per minute, low blood pressure, and oxygen saturation levels of about 80% -suggestive of acute respiratory distress.

With limited medical resources available onboard, Dr. Liriina, assisted by another doctor, initiated emergency treatment, including oxygen support and nebulisation.

The passenger, who had a history of childhood asthma but was not on medication, stabilised within 20 to 30 minutes.

“By the grace of God, this is a situation we deal with on a daily basis in my workplace. We used the medicines available onboard, and everything went smoothly. The flight was able to continue to its destination,” the doctor added.

Cabin crew had briefly considered diverting the flight, but the situation was brought under control in time, allowing it to proceed as scheduled.

The aircraft later landed safely in New Delhi, with the passenger reported to be in stable condition.

Dr. Liriina, who hails from Senapati district of Manipur and is currently based in Imphal, noted that while in-flight medical emergencies are not uncommon, they often depend on the timely intervention of trained professionals among passengers.