Man dies on Jetstar Flight: 3K SIN-AKL (Possible choking on Meal)

[markis10]

A PR nightmare in the making for JQ (3k), Thanks to Oneworldplus2 for the link! What a horrible thing to happen:

A 31-year-old man has choked and died while eating an airline meal on a Jetstar flight, reports said today.
Robert Rippingale had been eating a beef dinner while watching a movie when his girlfriend noticed him shaking, the New Zealand Herald reports.

"I thought he was laughing very hard, then I looked at his face and his eyes were rolling and he couldn't talk," Vanessa Preechakul, 27, said. "His lips were turning purple.

Man 'chokes to death eating Jetstar meal' | News.com.au

 

[Pushka]

A dreadful thing indeed but not Jetstar's fault that he choked, although the staff may be held responsible if they didn't act appropriately as first aid. I can't believe that someone did try the Heimlich position to dislodge the food. Such a terrible thing to happen.

 

[under the radar]

A dreadful thing indeed but not Jetstar's fault that he choked, although the staff may be held responsible if they didn't act appropriately as first aid. I can't believe that someone did try the Heimlich position to dislodge the food. Such a terrible thing to happen.

from reading the article..where do you get the information that the heimlich was used???? and staff are medically trained..but only to a basic level.. flight attendants ARE NOT medical professionals..please dont make such ignorant statements like "staff may be held responsible if they didnt act approptriately".... its an unfortunate sequence of events and all out thoughts should be focused on family/loved ones of the man who passed

 

[richie9x]

From the article "... thanked the doctor and nurses who tried to save Mr Rippingale." Which to me implies there was a doctor and more than one nurse on the flight. If they were unable to save him then not much that the air hostesses could have done. Unfortunately it appears to be just one of those things that happens.

 

[richie9x]

From the NZ Herald Kiwi with 'infectious smile' dies on flight - National - NZ Herald News

A doctor and two nurses quickly rushed to help after hearing her scream for help.
They performed CPR on him in the galley, but were unable to save him.

 

[Pushka]

from reading the article..where do you get the information that the heimlich was used???? and staff are medically trained..but only to a basic level.. flight attendants ARE NOT medical professionals..please dont make such ignorant statements like "staff may be held responsible if they didnt act approptriately".... its an unfortunate sequence of events and all out thoughts should be focused on family/loved ones of the man who passed

Ah, I left off the "'nt" in didnt. As for the rest and accountability, they may be accountable if they didnt act appropriately, which can include things like ignoring the lady's request for help. CPR wont help if there is something stuck in the windpipe which is why I asked about the Heimlich method. No need to get uppity, we all know they arent medical professionals but they do have excellent training in first aid.

 

[loobloke]

More surprised that 90 minutes out of AKL, they choose to continue flying for 9 hours with a dead body on board. Would be quite distressing for the partner as well as anyone using the galley :shock:

 

[rechoboam]

Not the point of the thread I know but on a plane or the ground the Heimlich manoeuvre is not recommended. Back thrusts after encouraging the subject to cough; finger sweeps if all else fails.

 

[Princess Fiona]

This is a horrible event and my sympathies lie with the man's family and also with the crew and passengers who tried to assist. I don't believe there is enough information published for us to speculate cause of death and what interventions would have been helpful.
A very sad tale indeed

 

[kalboy]

Im just a bit surprised there would be a doctor flying Jetstar.
I wouldnt let my pensioner Mum fly with them.
Obviously on an adventure holiday.

 

[munitalP]

Im just a bit surprised there would be a doctor flying Jetstar.
I wouldnt let my pensioner Mum fly with them.
Obviously on an adventure holiday.

What a terrible unsympathetic post.

 

[connieguy]

Im just a bit surprised there would be a doctor flying Jetstar.
I wouldnt let my pensioner Mum fly with them.
Obviously on an adventure holiday.

Amazing statement. I have flown JQ a LOT, domestically and internationally in both StarClass and in Y exit rows. I consider JQ delivers excellent value for money and have never seen or experienced anything that would support such a statement. How many JQ flights have you done and what was the experience that backs up this statement of yours?

As for the Pax, S**t happens and with trained medical staff on the aircraft, I sure this event was one in a million and that the Pax would have suffered the same fate on a QF metal flight. For you to suggest this had anything to do with the JQ aircraft or FAs is just totally wrong.

I suggest you need to retract and to apologize for your statement.

 

[rechoboam]

It's obviously a stupid comment which this fellow only makes because of Internet anonymity.

What does he think doctors do when only LCCs service a destination, charter a Learjet every time?

 

[Noob]

Im just a bit surprised there would be a doctor flying Jetstar.
I wouldnt let my pensioner Mum fly with them.
Obviously on an adventure holiday.

Pretty big generalisation there mate!

1) Doctors don't really make good money until they have completed many years of low paying hard work whilst waiting for a training place, and then whilst competing a training program - you're talking at least another 4-10 years as a doctor after 6 years of med school before you start to earn good money. I am sure any doctors on here can back up it's no quick buck.

2) Everyone has different priorities, most people I talk to - especially older people - want to get a good deal and wouldn't care who they went with as long as it isn't Tiger.

 

[kpc]

Im just a bit surprised there would be a doctor flying Jetstar.

If you look at my "OpenFlights" in my signature you would see that after QF and SQ, J* is the next most frequent carrier I fly:shock:. In fact, I'm flying J* to Mel this w/e.

1)- you're talking at least another 4-10 years as a doctor after 6 years of med school before you start to earn good money. I am sure any doctors on here can back up it's no quick buck.

To be a specialist, generally takes 13 (or more) years of training if no hiccoughs along the way :shock:

 

[Alanslegal]

Very unfortunate incident, probably a one in a few hundred thousand probability but still extremely unlucky. It would have been extremely traumatic for the people involved for the duration of the flight (and beyond).

 

[drron]

Another doc who flies JQ.
Actually they seem to be improving.Friday checking in at MCY and I was in 3B.The lovely agent says Ooh you are in a middle seat,I can give you 2D on the aisle.I responded that the aisle seat next to me was my wife.She said so we better leave it but I will see if we can get an empty seat next to you.And 3A was vacant-the drron shadow effect.

As to this incident the full story and facts are not available.Unfortunately accidents happen.At least medical and nursing help was available.

 

[JohnK]

Very unfortunate.

Anyone else think the news story is incomplete?

 

[munitalP]

Very unfortunate.

Anyone else think the news story is incomplete?

Do you expect anything less from NO NEWS? The 90 minutes out of AKL surprises me they wouldn't turn around - that would be at least a 3 hour fuel burn by the time they were on final approach - JB747, could they land at that weight without engineering inspection, i.e. a quick turn around after alighting PAX and deceased?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Very unfortunate.

Anyone else think the news story is incomplete?

Yes me, see above post