A routine Lufthansa flight from Germany to Israel turned into a life-or-death emergency when a 64-year-old passenger suffered a cardiac event midair and was saved by two Israeli doctors traveling on board. Dr. Mohammad Badarna, a senior endocrinologist at the Galilee Medical Center in Poriya, and his wife, Dr. Dr. Miriam Mafra Badarna, a family physician, were returning to Israel after a vacation in Germany when an urgent announcement came over the intercom asking whether a doctor was on the plane.
The couple immediately went to the front of the aircraft, where they found the passenger in serious condition. She was extremely pale, sweating heavily and complaining of intense chest pressure, clear signs of a cardiac event.
The two doctors began emergency treatment and stabilization on the spot. They opened intravenous lines to allow immediate access for fluids and medication, provided oxygen support using the plane’s emergency equipment, administered aspirin to thin the blood and conducted continuous monitoring while maintaining constant verbal contact to keep the patient fully conscious.
Given the severity of the situation, the possibility of an emergency landing in Cyprus was raised. After consulting with the pilot, who estimated that the aircraft would land in Israel within about 50 minutes, a decision was made to continue the flight while the doctors remained at the patient’s side and continued treatment. Thanks to their professional care, the woman’s condition stabilized somewhat, and she landed in Israel conscious. Upon arrival, a Magen David Adom medical team was waiting on the runway and transferred her to Sheba Medical Center for further treatment.
Dr. Mohammed Badarna later reflected on the experience, saying, “As physicians, our commitment to saving lives does not end when we leave the hospital ward. Seeing the passenger’s distress and the helplessness around her, and knowing we had the ability and tools to help, was deeply moving. The fact that we were both there, as a couple and as a medical team, allowed us to give her the best possible care under the conditions on the plane. We are glad we were able to stabilize her and get her safely to continued treatment in Israel.”