Travel vouchers offered after Jetstar death flight
Passengers on a Jetstar flight have been offered a $100 compensation travel voucher after a man died on board from Singapore to Auckland, reports say.
Robert Rippingale, 31, died after reportedly choking on his in-flight meal as his girlfriend, Vanessa Preechakul, watched in horror.
"I thought he was laughing very hard, then I looked at his face and his eyes were rolling and he couldn't talk," Preechakul, 27, said. "His lips were turning purple.
The Stuff website has reported that Rippingale's death is under coronial inquest. "I could see a doctor doing CPR for around 10 minutes – then I just heard the scream from the partner of the man,” the website has quoted a passenger as saying.
A doctor and two nurses on board pronounced Rippingdale dead 90 minutes into the take-off after they were unable to save him.
The choking body was reportedly carried away and put in a curtained-off crew rest area for the remaining nine hours of the long-haul flight.
Reports also claim that it was Preechakul who asked for the flight to continue on to Auckland rather than make an emergency landing back into Singapore.
Rippingale's father, David, said police have told the family his son choked to death but added that as the younger man had an existing heart condition, he would await the results of an autopsy.
Rippingale, who had lived and worked in Singapore for three years, was farewelled at a funeral in Auckland on Saturday.
A Jetstar spokesman told NZ Herald that the cause of death was unknown and expressed condolences to the family and thanks to the doctor and nurses who tried to save the man.
"This was a very difficult and sad event, and our sympathies are with the passenger's family," a Jetstar spokeswoman said.
"The crew did an admirable job in what was a very upsetting situation for all involved, particularly the deceased passenger's companion."
Jetstar said it had subsequently contacted passengers who were sitting nearby to thank them for their understanding.
They were offered a discount on future travel, the carrier said, without specifying the amount, although some reports said it was a voucher worth NZ$100 (US$84).
