The incident occurred on a Nippon Airways flight departing Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City at around 11.30 pm on April 4, en route to Toyama, Japan, with a transit stop at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
Nguyen Hoang Duy Tien, a doctor on board, said he was awakened at about 3.30 am on April 5 by an emergency announcement from the cabin crew requesting medical assistance.
“The crew asked if there was a doctor on board due to a passenger emergency. I immediately went to assess the situation,” he recalled.
At the scene, a Japanese woman in her 50s had lost consciousness after visiting the restroom. She was unresponsive, pale and had been placed on her side on the cabin floor.
According to her family, who were travelling with her, the woman had no underlying health conditions and no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Using onboard equipment, Tien measured her blood pressure at approximately 70/40 mmHg, a critically low level that could lead to shock or cardiac arrest if untreated.
With limited medical resources available, he requested the aircraft’s emergency doctor kit, which included normal saline and intravenous equipment, and decided to establish an IV line on the spot.
“Providing treatment on the plane was challenging due to the confined space. The aircraft had begun descending and there was slight turbulence, but there was no other option,” he said.
After 10-15 minutes of fluid infusion, the patient gradually regained consciousness, was able to communicate and move her limbs, and her vital signs improved. Her blood pressure steadily increased with regular monitoring.
Tien noted that in-flight hypotension can be caused by various factors, including pressure changes, cardiovascular conditions, cerebral circulation disorders or the body’s response to long-distance travel. However, without advanced diagnostic tools, determining the exact cause was not possible at the time.
“The priority was to stabilise her blood pressure to prevent cardiac arrest or brain damage,” he said.
Upon landing, an ambulance and medical team were ready to transfer the patient to a local hospital. The handover was carried out quickly and professionally, with passengers asked to remain seated for about 15 minutes to prioritise the emergency response.
Before leaving the aircraft, the chief flight attendant expressed sincere thanks to the Vietnamese doctor on behalf of the crew.
Tien, 32, graduated in 2018 from Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. He currently works at the Orthopaedics and Trauma Centre of Can Tho Central General Hospital.
His trip to Japan is part of a three-month academic exchange programme at Toyama University Hospital.
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews Newspaper, Tien said it was his first time handling an in-flight emergency.
“I believe any doctor would respond in such a situation. It is both a responsibility and a professional instinct,” he said.
