Indian origin woman dies on Melbourne-Delhi flight before take off
A 24-year-old Indian woman died on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Delhi before it took off. Manpreet Kaur, who aspired to be a chef, was eager to see her family in India for the first time in four years.
According to News.com.au, Kaur, who “felt unwell” prior to boarding the flight, was able to board without incident.
However, as she attempted to fasten her seatbelt, she fainted and died on June 20. The plane was still at the boarding gate in Melbourne when cabin crew and emergency personnel raced to help her.
“When she got on the plane, she was struggling to put her seatbelt on,” her friend Gurdip Grewal told the Herald Sun, according to News.com.au. “Just before her flight started, she fell in front of her seat and died on the spot.”
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Tuberculosis suspected to be the cause of death
The cause of death is suspected to be TB, an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs.
Kaur had been working at Australia Post while learning cooking and dreamed of becoming a chef. Her roommate, Kuldeep, described her as “kind and honest” and stated that she enjoyed touring around Victoria with friends, according to News.com.au.
Prior to her death, Kaur was heading to India to see her parents for the first time since moving to Australia in March 2020.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist Kaur’s family during this trying time.
“Our dear friend Manpreet left us too soon, leaving a void in our lives that can never be filled,” the page reads. “As we grieve her passing, we want to come together to honour her memory and support her family in their time of need. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to our goal.”
