Flydubai flight from Dubai to Dhaka diverted as passenger dies

Plane made an emergency landing in Karachi

A passenger died while travelling from Dubai to Dhaka on a flydubai flight. Photo: Chad Slattery

A flydubai flight was diverted to Karachi on Saturday after a medical emergency that led to the death of a passenger.

Flight FZ 523 was heading from Dubai to Dhaka, a flydubai spokesman said.

“We can confirm that flydubai flight FZ 523, operated by Smartwings, from Dubai International to Dhaka Airport on February 18 diverted to Karachi Airport due to a medical emergency,” the spokesman told The National.

“Flydubai would like to express its deepest condolences to the family of a passenger who passed away. Our family assistance team is providing support and our thoughts are with the family of the passenger during this sad time. We are in touch with the relevant authorities.”

The flight took off at about 1.45pm and was scheduled to land at about 8.30pm in Dhaka. After the emergency landing, the plane left for Dhaka at 8:17pm Karachi time.

The cause of the death of the passenger is not yet known and it is not clear if the passenger died on the plane or after landing.

In November, a male passenger died on board an easyJet flight from Cyprus to London Gatwick Airport.

A defibrillator was used to try to resuscitate him, without success.

World's safest airlines in 2023 - in pictures

1. Qantas. The airline has taken first place in AirlineRatings.com's annual list of the safest airlines around the globe. Photo: AFP

2. Air New Zealand. The airline has slipped down from first to second place in the ranking of 385 global airlines. Photo: AP

3. Etihad Airways. The national carrier of the UAE is the highest-ranked Middle Eastern airline in the list. Photo: Etihad

4. Qatar Airways. In fourth place, it's one of three Middle Eastern airlines in the top 20. Reuters

5. Singapore Airlines. The carrier has slipped down one place from fourth. Reuters

6. TAP Air Portugal is the flag carrier airline of Portugal and ranks sixth in the 2023 ranking. Reuters / Rafael Marchante

7. Emirates. The Dubai airline has climbed 13 places to rank as the seventh-safest airline in the world. Photo: Emirates

8. Alaska Airlines. The carrier ranked the eighth-safest airline in the world for 2023. Photo: David Ryder / Bloomberg

9. EVA Air. The Taiwanese airline holds its ninth place from 2022. EPA-EFE

10. Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic. The airline rounds out the top 10. Photo: AFP

11. Cathay Pacific. The Hong Kong airline ranks as one of the world's safest. Reuters

12. Hawaiian Airlines. The carrier sits 12th in the list. Reuters

13. SAS. The Scandinavian airline has fallen seven places in 2023. Photo: Carsten Snejbjerg / Bloomberg

14. United Airlines. The carrier is one of several US airlines in the ranking. AP Photo

15. Lufthansa. The German air carrier holds the 15th spot in the annual safety ranking. Reuters

16. Finland's largest and flag carrier Finnair is the world's sixteenth safest airline. ReuterS / Phil Noble

17. British Airways. The UK's flag carrier ranks in the world's safest airlines. Reuters

18. KLM. The flag carrier of the Netherlands holds a spot in the top 20. Reuters

19. American Airlines. The carrier has slipped to 19th in the annual list. Reuters / Joshua Roberts

20. Delta Air Lines. The US airline rounds out the top 20. AP Photo