Updated: Delta passenger died in Puerto Rico hospital- Spokesman

A male passenger who was on board  a Delta Airlines flight bound for  New York on Tuesday passed away shortly after the aircraft was diverted to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Delta Airlines representative Carlos Santos told Stabroek News today from the airline’s Georgia office in the United States that the man died shortly after he was rushed to a medical institution on the Caribbean island.

He said that paramedics were awaiting the arrival of the patient and according to him all 184 passengers on board the aircraft were subsequently accommodated via arrangements made by Delta.

He said that he was not in a position to disclose the man’s identity and Santos stated that several passengers travelled yesterday from San Juan to New York via post bookings made by the airline while the remaining 50 were expected to arrive in the US by noon today.

Reports are that the flight, DAL 384, which departed the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri for New York at 8:06 am on Tuesday, diverted to San Juan and landed there at 11:41 am.

It was reported that several passengers were stranded on the island but Santos noted that arrangements were already set in motion when the incident occurred. The airline subsequently issued an apology.