EasyJet passenger who died during flight to Malaga had ‘severe chest infection’ before flying

Fellow travellers have described what happened onboard

A woman died on a flight to Malaga (Simon Calder)

A woman who died on an easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Malaga had a severe chest infection before travelling, fellow passengers have revealed.

The 64-year-old, identified only as Ann, died onboard flight EZY8609 on 4 March.

Passengers Jacob Rodgers and his girlfriend Jessica, who were sitting near Ann during the flight, told the Daily Mail they had first met her at airport assistance.

Rodgers was getting help due to a broken foot, while he said Ann had a “severe chest infection” she’d picked up on a Caribbean cruise.

“She’d been vomiting water and couldn’t keep anything down the last two days and she had caught a terrible chest infection on the previous flight,” he said.

The couple were concerned about her during the journey as she was “wheezy” when breathing.

They were left “traumatised” after the plane landed and they tried to shake Ann awake, only to find she was completely unresponsive.

Jessica said they wanted to avoid shouting that they believed the woman was dead, as there were children present.

They switched on the call button and cabin crew attempted to find a pulse.

When they were unable to find one, crew used a defibrillator to try and resuscitate Ann.

“EasyJet can confirm that a passenger was taken ill onboard flight EZY8609 from London Gatwick to Malaga on 4 March after landing in Malaga,” a spokesperson told The Independent.

“The cabin crew and a doctor onboard provided CPR whilst the aircraft was taxiing to its stand and they also requested paramedics to attend to provide further medical assistance however the passenger sadly passed away.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the passenger and we are offering support and assistance at this difficult time.

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority.”

It follows a Virgin Atlantic charter flight from Barbados being quarantined at Gatwick airport on 6 March after at least 30 passengers were struck down with “coughing sickness” picked up on a cruise.