3 Passengers Die On Flights From Miami To London

local6.com ^ | Jan. 19, 2004 | n/a

[EggsAckley]

LONDON -- A 19-year-old British woman died Monday on board a Virgin Atlantic flight from Miami to London's Heathrow Airport, the airline said.

A day earlier, two passengers on a British Airways flight from Miami to Heathrow died, including one from suspected viral meningitis.

The Virgin Atlantic passenger, who was not identified, died on flight VS006 shortly before landing, a spokeswoman for the carrier said. She said crew had tried to revive her and a doctor had come forward to help, but the woman was pronounced dead on arrival at Heathrow, west of London.

Police said the cause of death was unknown but added that an autopsy would be performed.

On Sunday, a female passenger fell ill on British Airways flight BA208 from Miami to Heathrow and the aircraft was diverted to Nova Scotia, Canada, so she could receive emergency treatment, a spokeswoman for BA said. The woman died but it was unclear whether she died in the hospital or on the aircraft, she said.

A male passenger became ill after the flight resumed and died shortly before arriving at Heathrow, the spokeswoman said. She did not give either passenger's age or nationality or the suspected cause of death, but said the deaths weren't linked.

Hillingdon Borough, which oversees the Health Control Unit at Heathrow, said the male BA passenger was British and died of suspected viral meningitis. A spokesman for the local authority, Ian Macey, said he believed the female BA passenger had suffered a heart attack.

Macey said health authorities would inform all passengers on the BA flight of the dead man's autopsy results, although he stressed that viral meningitis is only contagious in very close contact.

He did not have information on the death of the Virgin Atlantic passenger.

Meningitis involves inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus.

Viral meningitis, which can be caused by many different viruses, is debilitating but rarely fatal in people with normal immune systems. Usually, the symptoms last from 7 to 10 days and the person recovers completely.

[EggsAckley]

viral meningitis is only contagious in very close contact

not too many things that provide the close contact of an airline flight.

[2banana]

How about the MHC (Mile High Club)!

[sinkspur]

The woman who died on the Virgin Atlantic flight will likely have died from that pulmonary condition that causes blood to pool in the legs when one sits for a long period of time, causing a blood clot.

This has happened regularly enough for airlines to encourage passengers to get up on transtlantic flights and stretch their legs.

[traumer]

I am missing one statement: "terrorism was ruled out..."

[BenLurkin]

viral meningitis is only contagious in very close contact.

Like sitting next to someone for 7 hours?

[EggsAckley]

Well, it was missing because we were waiting for your arrival.
~</;o)

[sinkspur]

How does terrorism cause a heart attack?

Your tag line is well chosen.

[Capt. Tom]

The woman who died on the Virgin Atlantic flight will likely have died from that pulmonary condition that causes blood to pool in the legs when one sits for a long period of time, causing a blood clot. This has happened regularly enough for airlines to encourage passengers to get up on transtlantic flights and stretch their legs.

I know they say this is a problem, but if it were true, Freepers would be droppping dead at the keyboard every day. - Tom

[Notasoccermom]

In the future are we going to have to have medical clearance to fly? What was nationality of the travelers?

[EggsAckley]

I had a form of respiratory menengitis (niseria) once and believe me, no one in their right mind should have allowed me on an airplane. The symptoms were THAT bad.

[sinkspur]

I know they say this is a problem, but if it were true, Freepers would be droppping dead at the keyboard every day. - Tom

Well, I don't think FReepers are posting at 35,000 feet.

[John H K]

There are no contagious diseases one can contract, and then die from, in a single flight.

[tdadams]

This is very strange. It's exceedingly rare to have just one person die while inflight, much less two. Especially a person so young. I'm curious what the results of the autopsies will show.

[JayNorth]

This is very strange.

No kidding. Can you imagine being on that flight?

CAPTAIN: Folks, we will be setting down in Nova Scotia to drop off a passenger who has expired.

Several hours elapse and plane is back in flight again...

CAPTAIN: Folks, you will see a lot of emergency equipment when we land because another passenger has expired.

BTW, I wonder if flight insurance pays the estates of the two unfortunate people in this case?

[missyme]

LOL...What a True Statement That Is!!!!!!

[skinkinthegrass]

Freepers would be droppping dead at the keyboard every day. - Tom

...Bloodclots in fingers, hearts or brains?

[skinkinthegrass]

..forgot, the Legs. :|

[RinaseaofDs]

Also, note that this happened today and yesterday, on the same route, and on British-owned airlines.

This is just now happening.

Does viral meningitis kill that fast?

Is there a doctor in the house?
PS: I'm setting up a demo, and two of the people I'm working with right now have flights on BA out of Miami later today.

[Capt. Tom]

I must be getting concerned, cause after reading it I got up stretched my legs went outside and fed the birds and squirrels. - tom

[John H K]

One thing considering is the likely age of many of the passengers on flights from London to and from Miami.