Emergency landing for heart attack passenger

A passenger on board a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines jet on its way to Johannesburg from Amsterdam was yesterday morning dropped off at Malta as he was suffering from a heart attack, sources close to the airport said.

The Control Tower at MIA was contacted when the aircraft was only 18 minutes from Malta, and informed that the aircraft had to make an emergency landing as a passenger had a heart attack. The time was around 3 a.m.

Air Traffic Services contacted MIA who sent an ambulance with paramedics and a heart specialist on the apron.

The sick passenger was taken off the jet which then continued on its destination.

The passenger was taken to St Luke's Hospital for treatment.