Plane diverted to Mumbai

Mysuru: A city Haj pilgrim, who was on his way to Jeddah to perform Haj, suddenly fell ill in the flight and is now undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Mumbai.

Mandi Mohalla resident Syed Ahmed, 77, along with his wife Mallika Banu Ahmed, boarded the Saudi Airlines flight taking off from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru at 9.30 am, yesterday (Aug.8). The flight was chartered by the Central Haj Committee to fly directly from Bengaluru to Jeddah.

However, in the middle of the flight, his health deteriorated and he fell unconscious. A doctor, who was also proceeding to Jeddah to perform Haj, checked the unconscious Ahmed. The flight crew decided to divert the flight and do an emergency landing at Chatrapathi Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai and the flight landed there at 11.30 am.

He was rushed to the Holy Spirit Hospital and later shifted to Saifi Hospital in Mumbai. Former Minister and Haj Committee Chairman Roshan Baig, who came to know of the incident, immediately informed Ahmed’s son in Mysuru about his father’s condition who left for Mumbai.

Briefing media persons about the development, Food and Civil Supplies, Haj, Wakf and Minorities Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said that if the condition of Ahmed improves then he was ready to bear the expenses from his pocket and send him to Haj. Later, the flight in which Ahmed was travelling left for Jeddah at 1.30 pm from Mumbai.