An EVA Air flight, BR67, flying from Bangkok, Thailand to Heathrow Airport, London, England, was forced to make an emergency landing on Friday, March 15, 2024.

The airline took the immediate action after discovering a male passenger attempting suicide in the plane’s restroom. This incident led to a swift response from the flight crew and an off-duty paramedic onboard.

As the Boeing 777 was descending towards Heathrow Airport, prompting passengers to leave the restrooms and buckle up, the crew found a male passenger in dire condition inside one of the lavatories. The quick medical response from the flight attendants and an off-duty paramedic, Gareth Lines, 36, from Portsmouth, managed to stabilize the man, whose identity is currently withheld. Following the aircraft’s landing, the passenger was instantly transported to a hospital.

According to FlightAware, a flight tracking application, the aircraft landed at Heathrow Airport at 7:03 p.m. local time, 17 minutes ahead of schedule.

In a statement, EVA Air reported, “On March 15th, as flight BR67 from Bangkok to London Heathrow was descending, a passenger was found attempting suicide in one of the lavatories. Thanks to our cabin crew’s prompt action and a medically trained passenger’s assistance, immediate first aid was given to the person in question. Upon landing in London, medical professionals took over the passenger’s care, and the case has been handed over to the police for further investigation.”

EVA Air, one of Taiwan’s leading airlines, has confirmed the incident, highlighting a grave moment for the aviation industry and its passengers. The airline’s swift response in this situation underscores its commitment to passenger safety and well-being, a top priority shared across the aviation sector.

Passengers on the flight recounted the tense moments leading up to the emergency landing. The cabin was filled with anxiety as crew members responded urgently to the situation. A collective sigh of relief was felt when the plane safely landed and the critical passenger received medical care.

Lines, the paramedic who offered his expertise to save the passenger’s life with continuous CPR, later stated that the plane was equipped with crucial medical equipment such as an automated defibrillator, and he asked the crew for oxygen.

He explained, “Without medication, there was not much else we could do. The individual had a cardiac arrest that lasted for half an hour, and then, 15 minutes after the arrival of the London ambulance team.”

The passenger was then transported to a medical facility where his heart began to beat again.