Vietnamese citizen dies during repatriation flight from the US
VOV.VN - A Vietnamese citizen has died on board a repatriation flight by Vietnam Airlines to bring home Vietnamese citizens left stranded in the United States due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnamese citizen are repatriated from the US
The 73-year-old man was said to fall down in the toilet when the plane was flying at an altitude of 33,000 feet, 13 hours after departing from San Francisco on July 15 (local time), according to a Vietnam Airlines representative.
Immediately, crew members conducted first aid and called on some passengers with a medical background to provide urgent support. However, all rescue efforts were in vain and the passenger died before the aircraft is to land at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh province on July 17.
The captain of the flight passed on information about the incident to aviation and health authorities in order to carry out all necessary procedures to transfer the deceased to local authorities.
The majority of passengers on board the flight were people under 18, elderly individuals, sick people with underlying diseases, and students without accommodation due to the closure of their dormitories, along with other cases in difficult circumstances, according to the airline.
Ahead of the flight, the Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco dispatched officials to the airport in an effort to assist the citizens with all necessary measures before they boarded the plane.
A range of preventive measures were also taken throughout the duration of the flight. Upon landing at Van Don International Airport, crew members and passengers underwent medical check-ups and were placed into quarantine in line with regulations.
Following instructions by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnamese authorities and representative offices abroad will continue to conduct additional flights aimed at bringing home Vietnamese citizens in the near future.
