TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A Garuda Indonesia aircraft flying from Denpasar to Perth made an emergency landing in Australia's Karratha Airport on September 15. The pilot and crew of flight GA-728 decided to reroute to Karratha because one of the passengers was in critical condition after having a heart attack on board.

Corporate secretary of the state airliner M. Ikhsan Rosan said on Monday, September 16, that sometime after takeoff, the cabin crew found that an elderly woman was having trouble breathing, and gave her first aid.

After seeing that the passenger required further medical attention, the pilot in command Captain Shahzam Nizam Rassat decided to land in Karratha to ensure she received proper treatment. 

After landing in Karratha, the airport's ground handling team immediately took the passenger to the nearest hospital.

Ikhsan said the 63-year-old passenger is recovering. She will board a plane to Perth, accompanied by a flying doctor, so she could continue her treatment in Perth. 

Garuda Indonesia flight GA-728 then took off from Karratha at 01:06 local time, resuming its course for Perth.

EKO WAHYUDI | DRC