8-Year-Old Passes Away After Medical Emergency on SkyWest Flight

 

 In a heartbreaking incident, an 8-year-old girl named Sydney Weston tragically passed away following a medical emergency aboard a SkyWest Airlines flight. Despite the crew's best efforts to save her, Sydney could not be revived.

Sydney Weston was traveling with her family from Joplin, Missouri, to Chicago on SkyWest Airlines flight 5121, operating as United Express. Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, Sydney suddenly became ill and unresponsive. The flight crew quickly jumped into action, doing everything they could to assist her.

The severity of the situation prompted the pilots to make an emergency diversion to General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport in Illinois. A representative for SkyWest provided a statement on the incident:

"SkyWest flight 5121, operating as United Express from Joplin, MO to Chicago O’Hare, diverted to Peoria, IL Thursday morning and was met by paramedics to attend to a passenger in medical distress. We appreciate the efforts of our crewmembers who responded quickly to assist and the medical personnel who met the aircraft."

Upon landing in Peoria, first responders immediately met the family at the gate and began life-saving measures. Tragically, according to the coroner, Sydney did not have a pulse when the plane landed. She was quickly transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.

As of now, the exact cause of Sydney's death remains unknown. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday to determine the cause and provide more clarity on this tragic event.

SkyWest is a regional airline that operates and maintains aircraft for several major airlines, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines. This particular flight was conducted in partnership with United.