Saudia flight lands in Karachi after India refuses entry for sick Bengali passenger
February 20, 2024
- Saudia flight departed from Dhaka at 3:57am.
- Passenger suffered from high blood pressure.
- India refused entry due to passenger's nationality.
KARACHI: A Saudia Airlines aircraft made an emergency landing in the port city after its Riyadh-bound flight from Dhaka saw a passenger's health deteriorate during the flight on Tuesday.
Sources told Geo News that the Saudia flight, SV 805, departed from the Bangladesh capital city at 3:57am and was flying above the Indian airspace when the health of one of its passengers, a 44-year-old Bangladeshi citizen, worsened mid-flight.
The condition of Abu Tahir, the Bengali passenger, was bad as he suffered from high blood pressure and kept vomiting, airline sources said.
Following the passenger's health, the pilot diverted the aircraft towards Mumbai and sought permission from the Air Traffic Controller in Mumbai for a humanitarian landing.
By the time the air traffic controller could issue permission, the plane had taken the landing approach towards Mumbai. The ATC sought the nationality and other details of the affected passenger and refused to offload the Bangladeshi Muslim passenger.
The Saudi plane was refused entry into the Indian territory, citing the presence of Bengali passengers who were on board the flight.
After receiving instructions from the Mumbai ATC, the pilot sought Karachi Air Traffic Controller for permission to land a flight in the port city after which the aircraft was flown towards Karachi and touched down at the Jinnah International Airport at 7:28am.
The Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) medical team took emergency measures at the airport with doctors arriving to treat the patient as soon as the plane landed.
The Bengali passenger on board the plane was examined by the doctor present at the spot who provided medical aid to him. Following the check-up, the plane flew to Riyadh from Karachi.
