SpiceJet flight makes emergency landing in Varanasi

A New Delhi-bound SpiceJet flight made an emergency landing at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport here Friday after a Thai national onboard suffered a heart attack, police said. The patient identified as Atabot Thngcusorn (53) was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead, the police said.

The SpiceJet flight took off from Bangkok at 7:40 am with 189 passengers, including a 22-member Thai group of tourists. Among the tourists were Atabot, his wife, sister and seven other family members, according to the police. The passenger was rushed by an ambulance from the airport to a nearby hospital,where doctors declared him dead, LBS Airport Director Anil Kumar Rai said.

The Thai embassy has been informed about the matter, he said. In a statement, SpiceJet said flight SG 88 was diverted to Varanasi owing to a medical emergency on board.

"The airport and ATC had also been informed by the pilots for medical assistance in advance and after landing the passenger was rushed to the hospital by the SpiceJet team. However, the passenger was declared brought dead by the attending doctors," it said.