SU 106 Medical Emergency Landing in Iqaluit (YFB)
Oct 5, 2015, 3:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 77
SU 106 Medical Emergency Landing in Iqaluit (YFB)
Aeroflot 106 bound for LAX has had an emergency landing due to a passenger requiring immediate medical attention at my hospital of work in Iqaluit (YFB).
The flight will leave a few hours delayed from YFB at 21:08h.
Unfortunately, passengers won't be able to disembark as there is no staff to clear that many passengers.
The flight will leave a few hours delayed from YFB at 21:08h.
Unfortunately, passengers won't be able to disembark as there is no staff to clear that many passengers.
Oct 5, 2015, 5:25 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
(( What's the name of the hospital? Can I call them?
Oct 5, 2015, 5:42 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
http://www.gov.nu.ca/health/informat...neral-hospital
The number is listed above.
There is likely only limited cell service at that small town, so I wouldn't worry that your husband hasn't contacted you. Please don't get worried about this, the chances are that it was some other passenger.
The number is listed above.
There is likely only limited cell service at that small town, so I wouldn't worry that your husband hasn't contacted you. Please don't get worried about this, the chances are that it was some other passenger.
Oct 5, 2015, 6:12 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 77
Oct 5, 2015, 6:14 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4
Oct 5, 2015, 7:25 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Oct 6, 2015, 10:02 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 77
We don't have a fully designated cath lab here, but we do have CT scan. We have quite a bit of services for the city's population (7500) due to the remoteness of our territory we cover. For example, we run a full service laboratory (my job here), diagnostic imaging, TB lab, ER, Surgery etc. We do often refer complicated patients to Ottawa, about 3.5~4.5 hour plane ride away, so it does becoming harrowing for patients at times. It is quite an expensive operation. A scheduled flight from Iqaluit to Ottawa will set back a passenger $2400 roundtrip. A Medivac plane costs tens of thousands to run. This is definitely a good case for getting travel insurance!
Since we have quite a large runway here (ex-US military base), this is a designated emergency stop. Airbus also runs a lot of coldweather testing so A380s and A350s have been landing in our town.
Since we have quite a large runway here (ex-US military base), this is a designated emergency stop. Airbus also runs a lot of coldweather testing so A380s and A350s have been landing in our town.
Last edited by MaHa; Oct 6, 2015 at 10:08 am
Oct 6, 2015, 9:20 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Thanks Maha. I always wonder what is available in the Great White North in terms of medical diversion since so many flights from the US and Canada take the "polar" route to Europe, etc. Even without a cath lab, it sounds like thrombolytics would be available and the patient could be stabilized. Good to know!
Oct 7, 2015, 7:46 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 77
Thanks Maha. I always wonder what is available in the Great White North in terms of medical diversion since so many flights from the US and Canada take the "polar" route to Europe, etc. Even without a cath lab, it sounds like thrombolytics would be available and the patient could be stabilized. Good to know!
Oct 7, 2015, 4:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: STR
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM or DM for 24 years, SkyClub: Lifetime, Delta Million Miler
Posts: 72
Maha, any idea if the woman is OK? I guess there was excitement in Iqaluit to see Aeroflot land and now I am one of the people that can say to have been to Iqaluit 
Unloading the passenger didn't take very long, but refueling did. According to the captain, YFB would not refuel until full payment has been made in advance. Moscow had to wire cash before we could get on our way. We waited a long time before fueling began. There were other discussions among the crew members about being unable to work because of expiration of their work time. Crew also discussed not even flying to LAX because of work time limits. Passengers were patiently waiting for news. Meal service was cancelled but the flight continued. After 18 hours on that plane it was nice to get to Los Angeles, but my last connection to PDX was gone, which made another overnight necessary.
I started out at ZRH 10/4 10:35pm and got to PDX at 10/6 9:19am - Those 8272Miles (plus diversion Miles) took 43h 44min
Unloading the passenger didn't take very long, but refueling did. According to the captain, YFB would not refuel until full payment has been made in advance. Moscow had to wire cash before we could get on our way. We waited a long time before fueling began. There were other discussions among the crew members about being unable to work because of expiration of their work time. Crew also discussed not even flying to LAX because of work time limits. Passengers were patiently waiting for news. Meal service was cancelled but the flight continued. After 18 hours on that plane it was nice to get to Los Angeles, but my last connection to PDX was gone, which made another overnight necessary.
I started out at ZRH 10/4 10:35pm and got to PDX at 10/6 9:19am - Those 8272Miles (plus diversion Miles) took 43h 44min