Emergency landing at Nagpur: Biman pilot who suffered ‘massive’ heart attack now in coma

The pilot of the Muscat-Dhaka Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight Naushad Qayyum, who suffered a "massive" heart attack mid-air yesterday, was stated to be in a "coma" and on ventilation support at the Intensive Care Unit of Kingsway Hospital in Nagpur in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

"His (Captain Naushad) condition is severe…he is surviving with full ventilation support…he suffered brain haemorrhage and bleeding profusely. He remains unconscious," said Assistant General Manager (AGM) of the Hospital Roshan Fulbandhe, according to our New Delhi correspondent.

He said initially the pilot suffered cardiac arrest on-board the flight and after that he was shifted to the emergency ward of the hospital in an "unresponsive and unconscious" condition.

Roshan said Captain Naushad's cardio-angio was done which brought out 60-70 percent blockage in his two arteries. As per the cardiac arrest protocol, the patient was then put on ventilator.

"Later a CT scan of his brain, revealed large Beed in PONS with global ischemia changes with mild downward migration of cerebellar tonsils," according to a health bulletin issued this afternoon on the latest health condition of the pilot. 

"The patient is on ventilator support with hemodynamic support," the bulletin added.

Captain Naushad Qayyum has been undergoing treatment under the supervision of Subhrajjit Dasgupta, Director Medical Services, Ranjan Barokar, Critical Care Physician and Virender Belekar, Critical Care Physician.       

Fulbandhe said Bangladesh authorities are in constant touch with the hospital about the health condition of Captain Naushad. The captain's family members have already contacted with the hospitals.

"I came to know that his (Captain Naushad) wife will arrive soon in Nagpur from the USA," he added.

The Dhaka-bound Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Muscat BG 022 made an emergency landing at Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur when pilot Captain Naushad Qayyum felt unwell onboard the plane.