The identity of the passenger who died on a Kenya Airways flight from New York has been revealed.
Authorities identified the deceased as Peterson Njuguna Mwangi, aged 66.
Mwangi was taken ill aboard flight KQ003 operating from New York to Nairobi on Monday, August 22. The medical emergency forced the attendants to divert the flight to Casablanca, Morocco.
“On arrival in Casablanca, medical personnel at the airport found the passenger unresponsive and was confirmed to have passed away,” KQ said in a statement on Tuesday.
Details released by authorities indicate Mwangi was a dual citizen of Kenya and the United States.
He is said to have developed breathing complications about seven hours after the plane took to the skies. Efforts by the flight attendants to administer first aid to the man bore no fruit forcing the flight to make an emergency landing in Morocco.
A family spokesperson told a local daily that the deceased had been battling diabetes.
Body arrives in Nairobi
The plane touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi at 7:00 pm on Monday, after an eight-hour delay.
Mwangi’s family was informed of the incident and collected the body from the airport.
“We convey our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and sincerely apologise to our other guests for the inconvenience,” KQ said.
STATEMENT: Diversion of KQ003 Flight From New York to Nairobi pic.twitter.com/eOEcuZ70Ss
— Kenya Airways (@KenyaAirways) August 23, 2022
Mwangi’s body is lying at Montensuma Monalisa Funeral Home awaiting autopsy.
