Kazakhstanis rescue foreign passenger on Astana-Aktau flight

Tengrinews.kz – On 23 February, a passenger on a flight from Astana to Aktau required medical assistance on board. The incident occurred about an hour after takeoff, reports the Mangystau Region Police Department.
What happened on board
According to the department, a 45-year-old citizen of Tajikistan suddenly felt unwell and lost his balance in the aisle. The flight attendants asked if there was a medical professional among the passengers.

“I was returning to Aktau from my work leave on the same flight. I saw the man falling toward me and managed to catch him. We called the flight attendants and started looking for a doctor among the passengers. Fortunately, a doctor responded. I always carry aspirin with me and offered it to the passenger. Until the plane landed, we monitored his condition,” said Major General Sagyndyk Ayaganov, head of the Mangystau Region Police Department.

A doctor who was among the passengers examined the man and provided the necessary assistance. According to her, his blood pressure was significantly elevated — up to 220/110 mmHg. The passenger was given the necessary medication, provided with oxygen, and his condition was monitored until landing. By the time the aircraft arrived in Aktau, his blood pressure had been reduced to 135/85.

“The passenger complained of a severe headache in the temporal area. Other passengers had captopril and aspirin. It turned out that a month ago, in his home country, he had already been hospitalized with a similar condition, but did not fully follow the doctors’ recommendations. People with chronic illnesses should make sure to have the necessary medications with them when traveling,” said obstetrician-gynecologist Tursyn Chuishbaeva.

What happened after landing
After landing, the man was handed over to an ambulance team and hospitalized. His condition is currently assessed as stable.
According to the passenger, before his condition worsened he felt weakness, numbness, darkening of vision, and difficulty breathing.

“After takeoff I started to feel unwell. An hour later I went to the toilet to wash my face, but on the way I felt weak, the left side of my body went numb, my vision darkened and it became hard to breathe. I lost my balance and fell. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who helped me on board,” said Amon Amonov.

Specialists remind people with chronic illnesses that during flights it is important to have the necessary medications with them and to follow their doctors’ recommendations.