Man dies after mid-flight heart attack

THALANG: An Indian businessman on a private flight from India to Singapore died early this morning after suffering breathing difficulties mid-flight, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at Phuket International Airport (PIA).

Lt Col Somkid Khaosang, Duty Inspector at Tah Chat Chai Police Station, named the man as Ram Calani Kusiram, 67.

“The man’s 27-year-old son, Calani Nares Kusiram, told us that his father suffered from heart problems. While on the plane, he began to have difficulty breathing so his family requested permission to land at Phuket Airport,.

“The doctor said that Mr Kusiram was already dead when he was brought off the plane,” Col Somkid said.

“Mr Kusiram’s body is at Thalang Hospital. His family will take it back to his hometown in India later today,” he added.

Phuket International Airport Director Sq/Ldr Pornchai Eua-aree said that incidents such as this happen occasionally at all airports. “The flight this morning was a private plane with a seating capacity of 20. The plane was not scheduled to land in Phuket, but we happened to be the closest airport.

“The pilot asked for permission to land and requested to have an ambulance ready for a patient in the plane who was having difficulty breathing,” he said.

He added that the ambulance took the patient to Thalang Hospital, where Mr Kusiram was pronounced dead on arrival.