British woman, 58, dies on Ryanair plane at Majorca airport as she flew home to Scotland days before

May 2021 · 2 minute read

A BRITISH woman has tragically died in front of horrified passengers on a Ryanair jet in Majorca - days before her birthday.

Janice McNeill, 58, became ill inside the cabin just before takeoff from Palma airport on a flight to Edinburgh. She is believed to have suffered a heart attack, reports local media.

Passengers were asked to leave the plane while attempts were made to revive her.

Medics were called on board but she was pronounced dead shortly after.

Ms McNeill, who was due to celebrate her 59th birthday next Monday, is thought to be Scottish - although local authorities have not said where she is from in the UK.

A forensic doctor was called to the airport, together with several police officers.

The flight, yanair FR6657, due to leave just after midday today, was delayed by just over three hours and ended up departing around 3.20pm local time.

According to Diario de Mallorca, the death of the British woman has been reported to the Palma court, which has opened proceedings.

The autopsy, which is expected to be performed tomorrow, will clarify the cause of death.

A Civil Guard source said: “About 12.30pm the alarm was raised about the death of a woman on a plane bound for Edinburgh that was on the tarmac in an airport apron.b

“A doctor certified her death from cardiac arrest. The dead woman is a British woman who would have been 59 next Monday.”

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A Ryanair spokesman said: “This flight from Palma to Edinburgh (22 May) was delayed ahead of take-off after a customer became ill prior to departure.

"Paramedics boarded the aircraft after medical assistance was requested but the customer sadly passed away.

“Ryanair extends its deepest sympathies to the bereaved and is providing any assistance required.”

An FCO spokeswoman told The Sun Online: "Our consular staff are supporting the family of a British woman following her death in Spain.”

In March Brit expat Ann Rudkin, 63, died on an EasyJet flight from Gatwick as it landed in Malaga.

The grandmother-of-two, from Weymouth, Dorset, had just returned to Europe from a Caribbean cruise.

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