Officials have reported that an eight-year-old girl passed away after experiencing a medical emergency aboard a commercial flight.
SkyWest Flight 5121, operated in partnership with United Airlines, departed from Joplin, Missouri, at 6 am on Thursday bound for Chicago. The flight diverted to Peoria, Illinois, approximately 45 minutes after takeoff.
Officials reported that Sydney Weston, the young girl, fell ill and became unresponsive, leading to the flight making an emergency landing.
“Her family immediately notified the flight personnel of her condition, and they began rapidly rendering aid,” the coroner said.
First responders met the child at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport after the plane landed. According to the coroner’s office, the girl was not breathing and had no pulse.
Sydney was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead just after 8 am, despite “aggressive resuscitative efforts.”
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
Sydney, from Carl Junction, Missouri, was traveling with her family on vacation.
The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office reported: “When the plane landed Deputies, AMT Personnel, and Air National Guard Fire personnel immediately received the 8-year-old female child and began life-saving measures.”
“The child was transported to a local hospital by AMT where she was unfortunately pronounced deceased.”
“Please keep the child’s family and everyone who was involved in this traumatic experience in your thoughts and prayers.”
The flight was operated by SkyWest, which partners with United, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.
A SkyWest spokesperson said: “We appreciate the efforts of our crewmembers who responded quickly to assist and the medical personnel who met the aircraft.”
Flight 5121 departed for Chicago again before 1 pm on Thursday.
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