- A would-be normal flight from Miami to Chile turned tragic when the pilot fell ill, collapsed in the aircraft toilet and died shortly after
- The 56-year-old airman named Ivan Andaur was flying a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787 when he ran into the medical emergency
- His two co-pilots made an emergency landing but the paramedics who were invited on board declared him dead
Read TUKO breaking news on the go in WhatsApp Channel — SUBSCRIBE
The airline industry is in mourning following the tragic demise of a pilot who died in the toilet of an aircraft from Miami International Airport to Santiago, Chile.
According to a report by News.com.au, 56-year-old Ivan Andaur was flying a LATAM Airlines flight LA505 on Sunday night when he began to feel ill.
Aircraft made emergency landing
He took a toilet break and went into the toilet of the Boeing 787 where he collapsed and struggled to cling to life.
He was discovered still alive, forcing his two co-pilots to make an emergency landing at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City.
Upon landing, paramedics were called into the plane to provide medical assistance but Andaur was pronounced dead.
A nurse named Isadora revealed that she, another nurse and two doctors tried to revive the ill pilot when the plane was landing after he suffered symptoms related to cardiac arrest.
Passengers evacuated
Another passenger who was on board the same flight explained that the flight had left Miami before one of the co-pilots announced that there was a medical emergency.
They were informed that the plane would make an emergency landing because the pilot was not feeling well.
“After 40 minutes the pilot asked us if there was a doctor on the plane, we don’t know what happened there,” she said.
Upon landing, all passengers were asked to evacuate from the aircraft because the situation had worsened.
Flight cancelled after Andaur’s death
After spending about 30 minutes at the gate, there was another announcement cancelling the flight, after which the passengers were booked into local hotels.
According to nurse Isadora, the crew did everything within their abilities to help him but they lacked the “necessary or sufficient supplies” to resuscitate him.
“LATAM needs to improve the issue of protocol in case of health and medical emergencies like this where lives can be saved but the resources are needed,” Isadora said, as reported by New York Post.
Andaur, whose wife Veronica died in 2017, leaves behind a daughter named Sofia.
Rafael Asudi’s demise
In another incident of an individual dying in the line of duty, former Gor Mahia footballer Rafael Asudi recently collapsed and died during a friendly match at Thika Stadium.
The left footed skipper had come into the pitch as a substitute while playing for Donholm Seniors FC in a match pitting them against Thika Vitambi.
In the wake of his demise, heart-wrenching photos of his last moments have emerged in which he was captured tussling for the ball with no sign that he would be gone a few minutes later
