Flight attendants on an American Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic to Charlotte, North Carolina, battled to save the life of an American mother of two who suddenly became ill shortly after takeoff from the Caribbean island, prompting an emergency diversion to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Tragically, despite the best efforts of the aircrew and local medics, the woman was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force confirmed in a Facebook post.
It remains unclear why the woman suddenly became ill and the police confirmed that a post mortem examination would be carried out.
American Airlines flight AA2790 departed Punta Cana at around 6:10 pm on February 28 but within a hour of taking off, the unnamed 41-year-old woman was taken seriously ill and flight attendants started to perform CPR.
The pilots took the decision to divert to Providenciales International Airport where medics were waiting to meet the Boeing 737. The woman was transported to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where she later died, the police statement explained.
Replying to the police Facebook post, a woman called Stephanie Quinn identified herself as the woman’s sister-in-law. “We are in disbelief and our hearts are breaking,” Quinn said in her reply.
A passenger called Melanie Glab offered her condolences to Quinn, saying that she had shared a laugh with the woman onboard the flight before she took ill.
“Please know I share my deepest condolences and prayers with all of you during this very difficult, unimaginable time,” Melanie wrote.
Following the diversion, the flight continued onto Miami, where the plane stopped for the night before continuing onto Charlotte the following morning.
