On Saturday, September 14, 2024 an off-duty, 57-year-old flight attendant, Gabriella Cario, suddenly collapsed and died while boarding an ITA Airways flight at Reggio Calabria Airport in Italy. Despite feeling ill before the flight bound for Rome, Cario chose not to seek medical assistance, focusing instead on her intent to return home to her family.
Reports indicate that Cario, a mother of three, looked noticeably ill but was determined to continue her journey. Shortly after getting on ITA Airways flight 1156, she collapsed in front of surprised passengers and crew members. Despite paramedics being swiftly summoned to the scene, they were unable to resuscitate her. The exact cause of Cario’s sudden death is yet to be officially stated, with current indications pointing to a sudden illness.
Alberto Mosca, the Mayor of Sabaudia, where Cario was well-known and her funeral took place, expressed his profound sadness over her death. “I knew Gabriella. She was a bright, always-smiling, and kind woman. On behalf of the administration and the entire community, I extend our heartfelt condolences to her husband and her beloved three children,” he stated.
In-flight medical emergencies are more common than one might think. As per aviation health experts, every 604th flight is likely to experience some sort of medical emergency. The most frequently reported incidents include fainting, gastrointestinal issues, and cardiovascular symptoms. Although flight crews are equipped with medical kits, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and have protocols to consult with ground-based medical professionals, handling such emergencies during a flight can be especially challenging.
There have been several high-profile in-flight medical emergencies in 2024. In January, a passenger on a Jet2 flight from Tenerife, Spain to Manchester, England was found unresponsive in the restroom and later died. In February, a male passenger on a Lufthansa flight heading to Munich, Germany started bleeding profusely from his nose and mouth, leading to the flight making an emergency landing back in Bangkok, but the man died on board. Also in February, a 41-year-old woman started convulsing on a flight from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic to Charlotte, North Carolina, forcing the aircraft to divert its course. Sadly, she also died in a hospital.
Despite Cario’s collapse happening while still on the ground, which allowed paramedics to reach her relatively promptly, they were unable to save her.
Airlines follow well-established protocols for managing medical emergencies, but they are not infallible. Many airlines are striving to enhance their emergency response procedures. For example, several are now participating in initiatives like Doctors on Board, which helps identify medical professionals among passengers who can assist in case of emergencies.
