Vietnam Airlines flight makes emergency landing at Kolkata after German passenger falls sick

A Vietnam Airlines flight (VN36) en route from Frankfurt to Hanoi was forced to make an emergency landing at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport on Tuesday night. The medical crisis unfolded approximately eight hours into the journey when a male German passenger, seated in row 11F, began showing signs of rapidly deteriorating health. The passenger complained of severe breathing difficulties, prompting the cabin crew to immediately initiate emergency response protocols.

The crew administered first aid and provided on-board medical assistance, but as the individual's condition showed no signs of improvement, the pilot decided to divert the aircraft. Kolkata was identified as the nearest suitable facility for professional medical intervention. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner touched down in the early hours of Wednesday, where a medical team was already on standby at the aerobridge following coordination with the Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Upon arrival, Vietnam Airlines representatives in India, alongside local airport authorities, ensured the passenger was swiftly transferred to a nearby private hospital for specialized treatment. Ground service units worked efficiently to manage the unscheduled stop, allowing the remaining passengers and crew to wait while medical support procedures were finalized. The airline emphasized that prioritizing passenger health is a core humanitarian protocol, regardless of the operational costs incurred.

After the passenger was safely hospitalized and the aircraft was cleared for departure, Flight VN36 resumed its journey. It took off from Kolkata at approximately 5:30 AM local time on January 7 to complete its route to Hanoi. This incident marks another instance where Kolkata airport has served as a critical hub for international flight diversions involving medical emergencies over the past year.