Reports: US man diverted to Iran after midair heart attack

[IDemo]

Source: msnbc.com

An American on a flight from Dubai to Seattle suffered a heart attack and was taken to Iran for treatment, according to reports Saturday.

The AFP news agency, citing Iran’s ISNA service, said the Emirates aircraft was in Iranian airspace when the passenger, 52, became unwell and the plane landed in Tehran.

“Yesterday (Friday), an airplane belonging to the Emirates airline, flying from Dubai to Seattle and while passing over Iran’s airspace, contacted the control tower and announced that one of this flight’s passengers had suffered a heart attack,” Abbas Mosayebi, of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, was quoted as saying.

“Despite international sanctions against the Iranian people which also endanger their lives, yesterday we helped an American citizen in our country,” Mosayebi reportedly said, adding the man was still in a hospital Saturday.

Read more: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/14/11197092-reports-us-man-diverted-to-iran-after-midair-heart-attack?lite

[midnight]

1. Hmmm...U.S. and other world powers are holding talks with Iran and over it's nuclear program.

AFP said Swiss diplomats in Tehran, who handle American interests in the absence of a U.S. Embassy, declined to comment on the report.
The incident comes and the U.S. and other world powers are holding talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear program.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. ping pong diplomacy, the next step?

[stp2k]

3. I wonder how the media's going to try to spin this one

Honestly. What are they going to say?

This is good P.R. for the Iranians, but I think any country would have done the same.

[madokie]

4. Take the politicians out of the picture

and we can get along with anyone. Politicians like to fight as long as it's with someone else's kids doing the fighting. Them personally not so much

[Ishoutandscream2]

5. I wish I could recommend your post over and over again

[RC]

6. I bet Iran has Universal Health Care.

If this had happened over the US somewhere, they would have run his credit card to see if he was worth saving and if so, how hard they needed to try.

[mainer]

7. That man is going to get platinum treatment in Iran

It's the best PR Iran could hope for.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. add to this, we saved over 30 Iranians from Indian Ocean pirates

[toddwv]

9. The US needs Iran to be the bogeyman and vice versa

The US can't justify it's bloated, expensive "defense" budget and its move towards a police state without a tangible "threat".

Iran can't maintain it's autocratic theocracy w/o an "outside threat" to unify their people and take their attentions away from the state.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Something like this happened in 2005.

A Northwest Airlines DC-10 had to divert to Tehran when the crew got a cargo fire warning. Since cargo fires are extremely dangerous the captain decided the safest thing to do was to land immediately - even if it meant the possibility of an international incident. This particular captain had lived in Iran years ago (before the revolution) and spoke some Farsi, which helped the situation considerably. As it turned out, the Iranians were very helpful and the crew and passengers were treated with great courtesy. This podcast, an interview with the captain, is long but it nicely illustrates how a little diplomacy and an understanding of another country's culture can go a long way.

This was the first time a US aircraft had landed in Iran since the revolution.

http://www.flightpodcast.com/episode-4-bo-corby-nwa-flight-41-into-tehran

[EC]

11. So, now they are going to hold him "for his well-being"

just how long?

[mainer]

12. They are going to treat him like royalty

and if he did have a heart attack, he will probably be there for a week before flying again. I have no doubts that the Iranians will treat him well.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. See #10 above.

When the DC-10 had to land in Tehran, all of the 200+ passengers and crew were offered a meal while they waited for Iranian Airlines staff to inspect and refuel the aircraft so they could take off again. They were treated very well. I'm sure the American who got sick will receive the best treatment they have to offer.

[EC]

14. I'm also sure they will treat him well..

but I'm also sure they will use this by holding him hostage to get some sanctions removed.

[mainer]

16. They could have taken other passengers hostage

yet they didn't. And since the plane was headed to Seattle, I'm sure there were plenty of healthy Americans they could have kept. So why would they keep a sick man as a hostage?

Americans visit Iran as tourists, even now. Lots of hostages to choose from.

[JerseyMac]

18. You're very misinformed

why would HE be hold hostage when there are American tourists in Iran - you can go there as well, and unless US starts dropping bombs on Iran, you would be fine there. Stop listening to MSM - Iranians are not bloodthirsty monsters out to get Americans - they are human beings.

[Posteritatis]

20. Yeah, that'll work. (nt)

[EmeraldCityGrl]

19. Agreed. Just as the Cuban's did in Moore's film "Sicko"

They couldn't ask for a better PR opportunity.

[saras]

15. They'll hold him until a competent medical system judges him safe to fly

Just like what happens in America if you're wealthy enough to pay all your doctor bills without insurance.

[Odin2005]

17. But, I though they hated us!!!