Plane makes emergency landing in warzone after flight attendant dies mid-flight

A commercial flight was forced to make an emergency landing in an area of Iraq recently hit by an airstrike after a flight attendant had a heart attack shortly into the journey.

The plane departed Bahrain International Airport in Bahrain, a small country around 930 miles south of where it was diverted, namely Erbil International Airport in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

The plane took off at around 10:22 UK time on November 22 and was destined for Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris around six hours after departure, but the itinerary was torn up when the Gulf Air staffer was taken ill just two hours into the flight.

READ MORE: 'Monster mum' called tot an 'animal' and filmed her outside as she 'froze to death'

The Airbus A321 passenger aircraft was nearing the Iraq-Turkey border when it was decided that it would divert to Erbil.

The airline said the worker – Yasser Saleh Al Yazidi – was taken to the hospital but was later pronounced dead in the Iraqi city, around 50 miles east of the heavily-bombed city of Mosul, only recently reclaimed from ISIS militants in 2017.

Director of Erbil airport Ahmed Hoshyar told Iraqi media the plane was cruising at 34,000 feet when Yasser became ill.

After about four hours on the ground, the flight continued to Paris after the attendant was taken by local medical services, Gulf Air said.

Gulf Air said in a statement, seen by TradeArabia News Service: "The national carrier expresses its deepest condolences to the crew member's family and loved ones, and confirms that the flight resumed to Paris as scheduled.

  • Knifeman left victim needing 20 stitches after slashing him with four-inch blade

"Gulf Air reassures that the safety of its passengers and crew comes at the top of its priorities, and thanks the affected flight's passengers for their patience and understanding."

It comes after at least one person was killed after rockets fired by Iran hit the headquarters of an Iranian Kurdish party in Koye, near Erbil.

The attack on Monday, November 14, also injured 10 others, according to the mayor of Koye Tariq Haidari.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the attack, saying it said targeted “terrorist groups” with missiles and drones.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.

READ NEXT:

  • 'Gym monster' prisoner 'refused basic human rights' after going 29 days without a shower

  • Russian troops' mutiny as soldiers abandon frontline where they 'were sent to die'

  • Brutal medieval attack as warrior's axe-split face recreated 660 years after massacre

Source: Read Full Article

Previous post Cops snag 49 as ‘European super-cartel’ busted with £2.7bn-worth of cocaine
Next post I turned my home into Winter Wonderland for Christmas – and spent less than £4