A 24-year-old Indian woman who was to meet her family in India for the first time in four years, died on a Qantas flight just before takeoff in Australia.
The incident took place on June 20 when Manpreet Kaur boarded the aircraft ready to fly from Melbourne to Delhi.
However, Kaur who was excited to meet her family suffered a medical episode soon after boarding the plane at Tullamarine Airport.
A friend of Manpreet said that she wasn't feeling well hours before arriving at the airport but boarded the flight without any problem. However, it was when she was trying to put on her seatbelt that she collapsed and died on the spot.
As the flight was still on the ground, the cabin crew and emergency services stationed at the airport rushed in to help Manpreet.
She was reportedly suffering from tuberculosis which is an infectious disease affecting primarily the lungs.
Manpreet moved to Australia in March 2020 and was bound to visit her family in New Delhi for the first time in four years.
Manpreet was working at Australia Post while studying cookery as she had aspirations of becoming a chef. Her roommate, Kuldeep, described her as "kind and honest" and mentioned that she enjoyed travelling with friends around Victoria, reported local news media.
The Qantas flight in a statement said, “Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones,” adding that emergency assistance was immediately provided to Manpreet after she collapsed, s
Manpreet’s friend Gurdip Grewal launched a GoFundMe page in order to help her family. “Our dear friend Manpreet left us too soon, leaving a void in our lives that can never be filled. As we grieve her passing, we want to come together to honor her memory and support her family in their time of need," Gurdip wrote in a message on the page.
As per latest update on the fundraiser page, a total of $39,105 AUD was raised by 994 donations which surpassed the goal of $30,000 set by Gurdip.
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