A recent incident involving a Saudia airliner has sparked intrigue as the flight, SV 805, en route from Dhaka to Riyadh, faced a medical emergency involving a 44-year-old passenger named Abu Tahir. The situation unfolded as the aircraft entered Indian airspace and neared Mumbai. Seeking permission for a medical emergency landing, the pilot was unexpectedly denied by Mumbai airport. In response, the pilot altered course, directing the plane towards Karachi.
While traversing the Arabian Sea, air traffic controllers instructed the aircraft to divert and land in Karachi. The plane, operated by Saudia, successfully landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 7:28 on Wednesday. Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority promptly dispatched a medical team to provide assistance to Abu Tahir.
Despite the successful resolution of the medical emergency, the reasons behind Mumbai airport’s denial of landing permission remain shrouded in mystery. Reports have emerged suggesting that the refusal may be linked to the passenger’s identity as a Bangladeshi Muslim. Allegedly, Indian air traffic controllers sought details about the passenger’s medical condition and, upon discovering the individual’s nationality, directed the aircraft to reroute to Pakistan.
This incident raises questions about the potential influence of passenger demographics on emergency landing permissions and the role of national identity in such decisions. The flight eventually resumed its journey to Riyadh, leaving lingering speculation about the factors influencing the divergent decisions made by Indian and Pakistani authorities in response to the medical emergency.
