A Nigerian, Majekodunmi Runsewe, 69, went into cardiac arrest and later died after his United Airline flight to Lagos flight was delayed for more than three hours at Dulles Airport in the United States.
The tragic event happened on Tuesday June 14, 2011. Mr. Runsewe, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Olufunke Runsewe, and his brother, Mr. Oladunjoye Runsewe, were billed to travel to Lagos aboard United Airline flight 990. According to family sources, the three travellers checked in for their flight at about 7:30 p.m. and boarded shortly thereafter. The flight, which is routed through Accra on its way to Lagos, was scheduled to depart at 10:44 p.m. For some reason, however, the aircraft did not begin to taxi until well after midnight.
According to other eyewitnesses, the passengers were relieved when the aircraft finally taxied unto the tarmac after about one and half hours’ delay at the gate, but soon after the aircraft reached the tarmac, it was announced that it had developed an engine problem. While the passengers expected to be returned to the gate, they were left right there on the tarmac for more than two hours before being allowed to disembark.
In the meantime, Majekodunmi became seriously ill and requested urgent assistance. The airline attendants could not locate a functioning wheel chair to evacuate the sick passenger who had become distressed and unable to stand on his own. After two attempts, the airline attendants found a functioning wheel chair and the sick passenger was wheeled back into the waiting area. While waiting to be picked up to return home, he suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to a nearby hospital where Mr Runsewe died.
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