“One minute we were sitting next to each other kissing, holding hands and the next minute he was choking,” said 27 year-old Vanessa Preechakul of her now deceased boyfriend Robert Rippingale.
The two were on a Jetstar flight from Singapore to Auckland and as they were digging into their beef dinners, Robert began to shake. Vanessa thought he was just enjoying the movie, but as his volume increased and his lips turned purple, she knew something serious was going on.
But by then, it was too late–a doctor and two nurses on board were unable to save him.
Although take-off had been just 90 minutes earlier, a decision was made to continue the 11-hour flight to Auckland. Robert was carried to the crew rest area where he remained, with Vanessa by his side, for the next 9.5 hours.
Jetstar is investigating the matter, although all signs points to Robert simply choking on his meal.
What a shame that the Heimlich maneuver did not work and talk about a rough flight for poor Vanessa–10 hours next to your boyfriend who had died just minutes ago? I cannot imagine how hard that must have been.
Not to make a joke out of this, but for the time being you might want to avoid the beef on Jetstar. Or if you do order it, be sure to chew it.
I’m surprised this doesn’t get discussed more often. I’ve been on a few flights where people started choking. Jet-lag + alcohol + rubbery airplane food seems to be a combination that can lend itself to choking.
When I interned in Flight Dispatch for United in 1993, one of the things I did was distribute the meters (messages) that would print at our office coming directly from the cockpit of airborne flights. You wouldn’t believe just how many people die on airplanes, most of which likely go unreported.
I’m sorry this guy had to die to prove my point. But since he’s already dead, I don’t have a problem taking advantage of the opportunity:
Don’t eat steak on airlines. It’s gross. And you’ll die.