PANAMA CITY, USA — A commercial flight from Miami to Chile took a distressing turn on Sunday, August 13, 2023, when Iván Andaur, the 56-year-old pilot of the LATAM airlines flight, suffered a cardiac arrest and tragically died in the airplane’s bathroom.
The sudden medical emergency necessitated an emergency landing at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City.
Andaur was piloting the Santiago-bound flight with 271 passengers onboard when the incident occurred around 11 p.m.
Upon noticing the pilot’s condition, the two co-pilots acted swiftly to divert the flight. Simultaneously, a nurse and two doctors onboard attempted a resuscitation.
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“Unfortunately, we did not have the necessary or sufficient supplies to perform a good resuscitation,” said a nurse, known as Isadora, via social media.
She urged the airline to reevaluate its protocols, emphasizing the importance of having the right resources in such critical scenarios.
Many questions arise regarding the “resources” she alluded to, but specifics were not provided.
An unnamed passenger recounted the anxiety-filled moments in the air. About 40 minutes after takeoff, the co-pilot made an announcement, inquiring if there were any medical professionals on board. “They told us that we were going to land because the pilot felt sick.
Upon landing, the situation seemed even graver as we were asked to evacuate immediately,” the passenger said.
Following the unfortunate incident, passengers were accommodated in Panama City hotels.
The continuation of their journey to Chile was slated for Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
LATAM airlines provided an official statement to journalists, assuring that “all the necessary protocols were followed during the flight to safeguard the life of the affected pilot.
Unfortunately, after landing and receiving further medical assistance, the pilot passed away.” Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the airline extended heartfelt condolences to the pilot’s family.
