Nagpur, August 17, 2023: A devastating incident unfolded at Nagpur Airport on Thursday afternoon as an IndiGo pilot collapsed at a boarding gate while preparing to fly an aircraft to Pune. Despite prompt first aid efforts and immediate hospitalization, the pilot tragically passed away. This unfortunate event marks the second death of a commercial Indian pilot in a span of just two days. The aviation community mourns the loss of these two skilled professionals.
The pilot had been scheduled to operate flights from Trivandrum to Pune and Nagpur on the preceding day, working between 3 am and 7 am. Following this, he had received a rest period of 27 hours. On Thursday, he was slated to undertake four flights, with the first leg departing from Nagpur at 1 pm. Tragically, as he prepared to begin his day, he collapsed at the boarding gate. Despite swift medical intervention, his life could not be saved, and he was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
This incident comes closely on the heels of another heart-wrenching loss within the aviation community. A seasoned pilot, who had been part of SpiceJet’s inaugural flight in 2003 and was currently employed by Qatar Airways, lost his life on Wednesday while traveling as a passenger on a flight from Delhi to Doha. The Qatar Airways flight, QR 579, made an emergency diversion to Dubai when the 51-year-old pilot fell seriously ill on board. Unfortunately, despite efforts, he did not survive.
This pilot, who had a rich aviation career that included 17 years at SpiceJet and operating its inaugural flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad in 2005, was remembered by colleagues as a fit and dedicated professional. His unexpected passing has sent shockwaves through the aviation community, leaving those who knew him grieving the loss of a respected and admired colleague.
