Passenger dies on board KLM flight

KLM BOEING 77-406 PH-BFH (MSN 24518)

A passenger has died on board a KLM flight which was travelling from Paramaribo (PBM/SMJP) in Suriname on the northeastern coast of South America, to Amsterdam (AMS/EHAM) in The Netherlands. The KLM flight diverted to Shannon Airport (SNN/EINN) in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The Boeing 777-300(ER) aircraft was about two hours southwest of Ireland when the pilots contacted air traffic control to advise them of their situation. The crew confirmed they had a male passenger on board who had fallen ill.

Two doctors travelling on the flight are believed to have rendered assistance however the man, believed to be in his late 50s, subsequently passed away.

The flight crew sought clearance to divert to Shannon and asked that the relevant authorities there be advised. The flight landed at 4.22am and was met at the terminal by airport authorities, a local doctor and members of An Garda Síochána.

The man was pronounced dead on board the aircraft and his body later removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will be carried out. It’s understood the man was travelling with his family at the time.

A Garda spokesman confirmed that members attended the airport this morning after receiving a report of a ‘sudden death’ on board a flight. Gardaí confirmed that a post-mortem examination will be carried out while arrangements to repatriate the man’s body will also be made.

The flight departed Shannon at 5.57am and landed in Amsterdam at 8.00am.