Citing airport officials, News18 reported that the 63-year-old pilot, Captain Silvio Diaz Acosta complained of acute chest pain to his co-pilot when he was about to land his flight from Imphal to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.
The pilot also began sweating profusely. In spite of having painng in his chest, he landed the aircraft full of passengers with the help of his co-pilot at 4:45 pm. Minutes after landing, Acosta was rushed to the medical unit inside the airport. He was reported to be critical in the ECG report. Doctors referred him to the nearby Charnock Hospital.
“His condition was serious, and he was immediately taken to the emergency ward. Electrocardiography (ECG) was done, wherein we found Myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack. It happens when blood flow decreases or completely stops to a part of the heart. Later angioplasty was done, a stent was placed. He is now recovering,” reported News18 quoting Cardiologist Dr Satrajit Samanta as saying.
Samanta told News18 that he also suffered from Ventricular Tachycardia (a heart rhythm disorder), while he was undergoing an operation. It made things complicated. The pilot was also was given electric shocks twice. According to Dr Samanta, he has never witnessed such an incident. He appreciated Acosta for making safe landing even after suffering from heart attack in midair. Today Acosta’s family members will reach India from Havana. According to the report, he will be discharged in two-three days.