The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Centre and other parties on a petition filed by the parents of a six-year-old girl who died after falling ill on a London-to-Delhi flight, with the family alleging that emergency medical facilities were inadequate both onboard and at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
According to the petition reported by Jagran, Zainab Nab Mohammadi became unconscious on a Virgin Atlantic flight travelling from London to Delhi on September 8, 2026. The family has alleged that the child’s blood pressure could not be measured on the aircraft and that a cannula suitable for children was not available.
The petition also alleges that IGI Airport did not have treatment facilities for a child below the age of 12. After the flight’s medical emergency, Zainab was taken to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, where she died on October 16, according to the report.
The case places attention on the chain of emergency care available across an international flight and the airport at which the aircraft lands. The allegations concern not only equipment carried onboard an aircraft but also the availability of age-appropriate medical support during the transfer of an ill passenger from an airport to a hospital.
The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Centre and other respondents. The report does not specify the names of all parties who received notice or provide the date fixed for their replies. It also does not state whether the airline, airport operator or aviation authorities have independently responded to the allegations.
The parents have asked that all medical records connected with the incident be preserved. These records could include treatment details from the flight, airport emergency response documentation and hospital records, although the report does not provide a list of documents covered by the request.
The reported allegations remain part of the petition and have not been established by a final court finding. The proceedings will determine how the court assesses the availability and adequacy of medical assistance provided during the flight and at IGI Airport. The next step is for the Centre and other notified parties to respond to the High Court’s notice.
