Panic broke out aboard a Goa-New Delhi flight after a passenger suffered a medical emergency mid-air, prompting swift intervention by a Bengaluru-based doctor on board.
The timely medical assistance helped
revive the passenger, following which the aircraft made a priority landing to ensure further treatment.
Around 1.15 pm on Saturday, barely 10 minutes after the IndiGo flight took off from Goa, the 34-year-old woman, identified as Jenny from California, complained of uneasiness and shivers before collapsing. She was seated in the 16th row, along with her sister. The duo were travelling to Delhi to attend a wedding.
However, even before an announcement seeking medical assistance could be made over the public address system, Dr Nimbalkar, a medical professional and former Congress MLA from the Khanapur assembly constituency in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, rose from her seat and rushed to assist, Times of India reported.
Upon examination, she found the passenger unconscious, pale and severely dehydrated, with clenched fists and symptoms suggestive of a seizure.
The doctor swiftly obtained the passenger’s medical history from her sister and began basic resuscitative measures, successfully reviving her. Dr Nimbalkar then administered an oral electrolyte solution the passenger was carrying, as she had suffered from a stomach infection the previous day.
With the situation seemingly stabilised, Dr Nimbalkar returned to her seat. However, around 30 minutes later, she was urgently called again as the same passenger collapsed a second time and appeared to be in critical condition.
After this, the passenger clutched her hand, almost literally clinging on to dear life. “Please don’t go anywhere,” was all she managed to say, but those few words were enough to convey her ordeal. After this, Dr Nimbalkar remained by the passenger’s side until the aircraft made a priority landing in Delhi and the critically ill American passenger was evacuated to a hospital.
Siddaramaiah Lauds Lifesaving Act
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah praised former Khanapur MLA Dr Anjali Nimbalkar for her “presence of mind and compassion” after she saved the woman’s life during a mid-air medical emergency.
In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said Dr Nimbalkar acted swiftly and administered timely CPR when the passenger collapsed mid-air, calling the act a reflection of her “humanity, service and sense of responsibility”.
“What makes this even more inspiring is that despite stepping away from active medical practice and being deeply engaged in politics, the doctor within her responded without a second thought,” he said.
Deeply moved and incredibly proud to hear about the remarkable presence of mind and compassion shown by former Khanapur MLA Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar during a Goa–New Delhi flight. When an American woman suffered a medical emergency mid-air, Dr. Anjali instantly rose to the occasion… pic.twitter.com/CE65RVxl0Q
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 14, 2025
“I pray that God blesses her with long life and good health, and continues to use her as an instrument to save and uplift many more lives,” the chief minister added.
