By Jim Tharpe
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Copyright 2007 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two Delta Air Lines flight attendants had to put their emergency medical training into practice Thursday in Atlanta after a passenger had an apparent heart attack as Flight 1469 to Tampa was pulling back from the gate at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin said the two attendants warned the pilot of the emergency as the plane was leaving the gate and preparing to taxi for takeoff.
“The flight attendants administered CPR to the patient in the back of the airplane until the paramedics arrived,” Laughlin said. “This is another example of our employees’ training and professionalism. It’s a rare event, but medical emergencies do occasionally occur, and our employees have to react to them.”
Laughlin did not know the patient’s name or condition.
The incident delayed the 3:30 p.m. flight about an hour, and it took off without further problems, landing in Tampa about 6 p.m., she said.