BUCHAREST: A Royal Dutch Airlines flight made an
emergency landing in Bucharest on Tuesday afternoon when a pregnant
Singaporean onboard fell seriously ill.
The 28-year-old Singaporean was travelling with her
husband to Amsterdam for a holiday.
Their vacation turned sour 10 hours after takeoff
from Singapore, while they were flying over
Russia.
The woman reportedly felt very sick and pilots
decided to land in Romania.
Henri Coanda International Airport spokesman
Valentin Iordache said: "At about 5.50am local time, a message was
sent to the airport to await an emergency medical landing
here.
"The plane landed at 6.48am. Medical emergency crew from the
airport got in the plane and tried to give first aid to the
passenger".
The woman had almost no pulse and blood pressure and was
immediately rushed to Romania's Elias Hospital.
Doctors discovered she was suffering from extrauterine pregnancy,
and had to remove part of her uterus in order to save her.
She is now clear of danger, and doctors say she will still be able
to bear children.
Elias Hospital's Dr Alexandru Filipescu said: "The patient is now
feeling very well, as compared to the state of shock when she was
brought in yesterday. She is balanced and she has regained all of
her functions".
The woman's husband, who did not want to be identified, said his
wife underwent a medical scan before the trip and was assured she
would be able to cope.
He said: "The scanning showed that things were okay, so we (made)
preparation and (took) precautions.. It's not a thorough check-up,
but the pictures showed that it's quite okay, that's why".
He said they would stay on in Romania for observations, if
necessary.
-CNA/wk