Barbara Dipoli, a 53-year-old woman from Topeka, Kansas, passed away mid-flight on Air France’s AF334 service from Paris to Boston on January 14, 2025. Despite immediate medical attention from a doctor onboard and the trained flight crew, her life could not be saved. The flight landed at Boston Logan International Airport’s Gate E6 nearly 16 minutes late, touching down just before 5 p.m. local time.
An Air France spokesperson stated, “Air France confirms that a passenger on flight AF334 from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Boston on January 14, 2025, suffered a heart attack during the flight. Despite the intervention of a doctor on board, mobilized and assisted by the crew, the customer could not be rescued.”
Upon the Airbus A350’s arrival, emergency crews were on the scene. The Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit was called to the scene of what they classified as an “unattended death”, indicating that medical professionals were not present at the time of death. Media reports suggest that troopers and detectives were seen inspecting the aircraft after it landed. The incident is currently under investigation, with authorities meticulously examining the circumstances surrounding the death.
In their statement, the airline highlighted its emergency response procedures, “Air France reminds that its crew members are regularly trained to handle these kinds of situations. “Air France regrets this sad event and expresses its sincere condolences,”
Medical emergencies during flights are not as uncommon as many might think. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that such events occur on approximately one in every 604 flights. Out of these incidents, 90% of aircraft continue to their planned destination, while the remaining 10% need to divert due to severe medical issues including cardiac arrest, chest pain, or potential strokes.
According to U.S. aviation authority statistics, around 44,000 flights per year experience some form of medical event. The most commonly reported situations include fainting, gastrointestinal complications, respiratory issues, neurological problems, and seizures. Though less frequent, cardiac events often pose the most significant risk to passengers. The overall death rate for in-flight medical emergencies is approximately 0.3%.
This recent incident follows several other notable aviation medical emergencies. One such case occurred in October 2024, involving Turkish Airlines. During that flight, pilot İlçehin Pehlivan, aged 59, collapsed while operating a 12-hour service from Seattle to Istanbul. FlightRadar24, a flight tracking website, recorded the aircraft flying north over Canada before reversing course over Baffin Island for an emergency landing at New York’s JFK airport.
Turkish Airlines reported on social media, “After an unsuccessful attempt to give first aid, the flight crew of another pilot and a co-pilot decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing.” Pehlivan, who had been with the airline since 2007, had successfully passed his medical examination in March 2024.
Aviation experts stress that while medical emergencies can take place on any flight, airlines maintain stringent training programs for crew members to handle such situations. The presence of medical professionals among passengers, as was the case in both recent incidents, provides additional support during inflight emergencies, but outcomes can never be guaranteed.
