Mangaluru: Air India pilot saves Russian passenger with stroke

Mangaluru, Feb 3: Air India has been in the news a lot recently, but not for the right reasons. There have been several complaints against the airline: from the report of an Air India pilot allegedly assaulting a ground engineer in Chennai, and regular complaints of delays.

However, in a turnaround of sorts, a well-meaning pilot potentially redeemed their reputation by making an emergency landing in Mangaluru, to save a Russian patient, Artur Izotov (47), who suffered a stroke mid air on February 24. The flight was travelling to Mumbai from Thiruvananthapuram.

Air India station manager Nagesh Shetty said that all medical emergency requirements including an ambulance and a doctor were kept ready. “After the A1668 landed the doctor visited the aircraft and examined the passenger. He was taken out in a wheelchair and shifted to an ambulance at 2.08pm."

The aircraft with the remaining 94 passengers left at 2.30pm. Shetty accompanied Izotov to a city hospital in the ambulance.

Doctors who treated Izotov said he underwent several tests and was kept under observation for 24 hours. Air India staff coordinated with hospital authorities and sent his baggage to the hospital.

"Izotov is happy he has recovered," Shetty said. After he was discharged, Izotov chose to travel by train and left for Goa on Matsyagandha Express. The Russian national is now holidaying at a star hotel.

The latest piece of news comes as a respite to the airline, which has been criticized for years from travelers and passengers.  More recently, they were part of a controversy involving Renuka Chowdhury, in which the flight was allegedly delayed for 45 minutes to accommodate the minister's duty free shopping.

When was the last time anyone heard any praise toward Air India? In the wide expanse of the internet, Air India has not had the best reputation.