WASHINGTON, March 13 (UPI) -- A U.S. medical advice firm says longer flights and aging baby boomers are driving an increase in medical emergencies on commercial flights.
MedAire, in an analysis for USA Today, found the rate of medical emergencies aboard commercial flights nearly doubled from 18 per 1 million passengers in 2000 to 35 per 1 million passengers in 2006.
More passengers have died as a result of in-flight medical emergencies than in airline accidents. The National Transportation Safety Board said there have been 95 passenger fatalities in airline accidents since 2003. MedAire said at least 219 passengers have died of health problems on U.S. flights during the same period.
Diabetes, seizure disorders and heart and respiratory ailments account for 23 percent of in-flight deaths, the newspaper said. Passengers over the age of 50 accounted for 83 percent in-flight deaths in 2006.
