Passengers fall sick inside aircraft

Kolkata, Jun 26 (UNI) Several passengers of an Alliance Air flight, that was about to take off from NSCBI airport this evening, fell sick inside the ATR-42 aircraft complaining of hot and stuffy condition.

Some of the passengers complained of breathlessness and suffocation and were given oxygen mask by the airlines crew.

The flight, carrying 44 passengers, was scheduled to depart at 1500 hours but was delayed because of some repairs being carried out in the aircraft.

The flight was finally made ready at 1730 hours and the aircraft started rolling on the taxiway. It was then the passengers started complaining that they were feeling hot and having breathing problems.

The commander assured them that the problem was temporary and the passengers would feel easy once the aircraft was airborne.

But the conditions inside the aircraft did not improve and the passengers continued to complain.

The aircraft then returned to the parking bay and the passengers disembarked.

Many of them were rushed to the airports medical unit, some feeling very sick. A 22-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy suffered from acute breathlessness and were rushed to the ICU of a private hospital.

The flight, however, later left for Agartala with 42 passengers.

UNI