Dead Man Boarded on Flight From Phoenix (repost due to server mixup)
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Dead Man Boarded on Flight From Phoenix (repost due to server mixup)
Previous Post got mixed in the server with post on Australian airspace. Very strange.. .. .As the cabin crew supposedly said, he looked kind of stiff.. .. .AP Filed at 4:58 p.m. ET . .. .DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- An 80-year-old passenger was pronounced dead at the end of an airline flight, and authorities say it is possible he had already died when he was taken on board in his wheelchair. . .. .James Walsh was found dead Saturday after arriving at Des Moines International Airport on the America West Express flight from Phoenix. He had a history of heart and kidney-related problems. . .. .A report by the Polk County medical examiner's office said members of the flight crew reported that he looked "kind of stiff'' and didn't move during the trip. . .. .The report also said Walsh's daughter-in-law told. .investigators his fingertips were turning purple and she couldn't find his pulse, but when a flight attendant checked on Walsh the daughter-in-law told her he was "just sedated, sleeping and had a pulse.'' . .. .After they landed at Des Moines, Walsh's son, Mark Walsh of Green Valley, Ariz., wheeled his father into the terminal and was met by his sister, a registered nurse. The sister said he was dead at that time, and he was later declared. .dead at a hospital. . .. .The medical examiner's office report said Mark Walsh told investigators he was "pretty much convinced he died in the airport terminal in Phoenix.'' . .. .There was no immediate explanation why Mark Walsh took his father onto the plane if he suspected the man had died. There was no comment from him Monday; he has no listed phone number in Green Valley. . .. .Phoenix-based America West Express was satisfied that Walsh, who lived in Des Moines, was alive when he boarded, spokeswoman Patty Nowack said Sunday. . .. ."We never would have allowed a passenger who had passed away to board an aircraft,'' she said. . .. .Walsh was seated next to his son and daughter-in-law on the Boeing 737 with about 100 passengers on board, Nowack said. She said she had not heard any passenger complaints about the flight. . .. .The Federal Aviation Administration was looking into whether the airline and crew followed regulations, including whether there was enough medical equipment on board and whether the crew was trained to deal with a death. But an official said sanctions were unlikely. . .. ."They're not anticipating any federal regulatory. .violations at this time,'' FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham-Cory said in Chicago. . .. .Both the Des Moines and Phoenix police departments said they did not plan to investigate. . .. .Walsh had been staying with his son and daughter-in-law near Phoenix for the winter and was receiving medical treatment, the medical examiner's report said. His family was bringing him back to Des Moines on a doctor's advice. . .. .Under Iowa law, anyone other than a funeral director who transports a body between states would need a burial-transit permit from a county registrar or funeral director, said Carol Fleagle, executive director of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association.
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There are a number of similar stories to this - principally about "Lourdes" (sp?) in France.... .. .For those who say "why" look at the hassle and cost of declaring someone "dead" away from home.... .. .It is much cheaper to transport them on their "last journey" as an alive pax, and get the admin done at home. If no-one notices - all the better!. .. .Compare a lo-cost carrier 1 way fare v the cargo charge of "Human Remains" ?. .. .NoD
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Maybe the old guy was just dying to fly. Or the inflight movie bored him to death. Or perhaps the wait to get through security was just killing him.. .. .Sorry, couldn't resist.. .. .Fly safe (and alive)
Just a numbered other
Rather insensitive posts, considering someone has died here, don't you think?. .. .Mind you, it will have saved a lot of money, time and paperwork to fly on a 'Live' ticket, than be pronounced dead, and then go through the proceedure to obtain a refund, and rebook as a casket case.
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Had a colleague who worked in the casualty in a hospital near LHR (once upon a time) - they'd get about one dead car passenger a week, usually en route to somewhere, but failed to meet the check-in, as they were 'asleep' in the back of the car!
what a refreshing breath of air. Unabashed humour, sprinkled liberaly throughout the post with not one single mention of the word "condolences" I have a sneaking suspicion that the prude brigade will pounce any time. Renew my subscription Mr Hislop !!!!
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Years ago, different lifetime, I worked on the line crew at the local airport. Once a week or so, a body would be moved to or from the airport, usually using a Cherokee Six. But towards the end of my stint on the line crew, a "budget" body mover started making the rounds, transporting folks in a two seat Cherokee 140. He derived great pleasure in spooking the new line crew members by "introducing" his friend to them when they met the aircraft. "Here's my friend Bob - he's not feeling very well".. . It was a bit of an event getting the "stiff" from the Cherokees seat into the hearse/station wagon, because the body did take a set on the trip and had to be straightened out.