NEW DELHI: Doha-bound IndiGo flight was diverted to Pakistan’s Karachi due to a medical emergency onboard.

The airline in a statement said that the passenger who had fallen ill was declared dead by the airport medical team on landing. The flight with the dead passenger onboard flew back to Delhi after first making an emergency landing in Karachi. Sources say the emergency landing was made to save the passenger, who was a Nigerian national.

“We are deeply saddened by the news and our prayers and wishes are with his family and loved ones. We’re currently making arrangements for transferring the other passengers of the flight, in coordination with the relevant authorities,” IndiGo said.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson in Karachi confirmed that a flight of an Indian airline was going to Dubai from Delhi when the health of a passenger worsened mid-flight. The pilot of the IndiGo flight sought emergency landing permission due to a medical emergency, which was granted by the Air Traffic Controller at the Karachi airport.