British Airways steward dies in front of passengers waiting for take-off from Heathrow

A British Airways crew member reportedly collapsed and died in front of passengers shortly before the plane was about to take off for Hong Kong from London Heathrow on New Year's Eve

A British Airways steward died in front of passengers as they waited to take off from London Heathrow.

The 52-year-old is believed to have collapsed while on duty in front of seated passengers as the plane was about to depart for Hong Kong on New Year's Eve. Medical assistance was immediately requested by the pilot and a traveller did come forward to try and help, but the steward sadly died.

The doors on BA Flight 32 had already been locked and the pilot had asked for permission to push-back and head onto the runway when the crew member is believed to have fallen to the floor, to the shock of passengers.

Emergency services rushed onto the plane but the person could not be resuscitated and the December 31 flight was cancelled due to the medical emergency, reported The Sun. A British Airways spokesperson told The Mirror: "Our thoughts are with our colleagues’ family and friends at this difficult time."

It comes after a British passenger on board a flight heading back to the UK who was taken ill has died. The unnamed woman had been travelling on TUI flight BY1573 to Glasgow when she suffered a cardiac arrest. Pilots sent an emergency signal shortly after the plane full of passengers took off from Tenerife. It was diverted to Madeira and landed around 20 minutes later.

Emergency crews, including paramedics and firefighters, met the plane on the tarmac but she passed away, according to local reports. The plane had been en route to Scotland on Friday, December 29, when the emergency was declared.

And stunned passengers on a British Airways flight found a 73-year-old woman who was thought to be asleep had actually died on the flight from London to Nice last September. The woman reportedly suffered a heart attack mid-air on BA flight 348 out of Heathrow, to the horror of her fellow travellers onboard. Others on the flight only noticed something was wrong after they touched down in the southern French city.

When nearby passengers began collecting their bags to disembark it was found the woman, who had been presumed to be sleeping, was not responding. People around her on the flight became increasingly concerned and called the flight crew, who contacted emergency services. Paramedics attempted to revive her, but were sadly unable to help her.