At 30,000 Feet: 2 Indian Doctors Save Etihad Crew Member During Mid-Air Emergency

Two Indian doctors on an Etihad Airways flight jumped into action to save a cabin crew member who went into severe allergic shock shortly after take-off.

According to a social media post by MGM Healthcare in Chennai, the incident took place on December 1, about 40 minutes after the flight left Ethiopia for India. Dr Gopinathan M, a hemato-oncologist and bone marrow transplant specialist, and Dr Sudharshan Balaji, senior consultant and urology clinical lead, were returning home after a medical camp when the emergency unfolded in the cabin.

MGM Healthcare stated that the crew member developed acute anaphylaxis, a fast, dangerous allergic reaction that can block the airway and drop oxygen levels within minutes. The doctors said the crew member had no air entry and his oxygen saturation had fallen to 80 per cent, making it a life-or-death moment at 30,000 feet.

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With only basic medical supplies onboard and no option for an emergency landing, the two specialists began treatment immediately. They gave the crew member steroids, bronchodilators, and antihistamines and placed him on continuous oxygen.

The hospital said the doctors spent almost an hour trying to improve his breathing before his ventilation finally stabilised. They continued checking his vitals and supporting him for nearly the entire flight, about four hours, ensuring he stayed awake, stable, and able to communicate until the aircraft landed safely.

The incident took place between 2.30pm and 7.30pm (Ethiopian time). MGM Healthcare described the doctors' mid-air lifesaving intervention as a powerful example of medical commitment beyond hospital walls.

Khaleej Times has reached out to Etihad Airways for more details.

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