(Trinidad Express)
A CARIBBEAN Airlines aircraft en-route from Miami, Florida to Piarco International Airport had to be diverted to Puerto Rico on Thursday afternoon after a passenger on board complained of feeling unwell.
The passenger died at hospital following the flight’s landing in Puerto Rico.
In a statement yesterday, CAL said flight BW483 was diverted to San Juan, Puerto Rico following the medical emergency aboard.
“On arrival at the Luis Munoz Marin International airport, the flight was met by an ambulance and accompanying paramedics.
The paramedics took the 35-year-old passenger off the aircraft and rushed him to the hospital, where he later died,” CAL said.
The airline did not identify the man, but information reaching the Express gave his name as Clarence Ramjattan of Woodbrook.
The Express was told the man was travelling with his father and brother and was suffering from a pre-existing medical condition.
After the aircraft departed Miami, the passenger complained of feeling unwell and alerted the crew.
CAL chairman Rabindra Moonan said yesterday: “The plane was diverted to Puerto Rico for medical assistance. During that time the crew was in contact with a medical facility in the United States. When they reached the airport in Puerto Rico the ambulance was waiting.
He died on arrival at hospital.”
The other 90 passengers on board were accommodated at area hotels for the night and the flight resumed its journey yesterday morning, operating as
BW3483. It arrived at Piarco at 11.35 a.m.