Pune: Dhairyashil Wandekar, an aviation expert, has urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to mandate the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on airplanes to ensure passenger safety during medical emergencies.

Pune Airport currently has six AED devices installed at critical points, including the arrival and departure gates.

These devices are used to provide immediate assistance in cases of cardiac arrest or severe chest pain, significantly improving the chances of saving lives. AEDs are becoming increasingly common at major airports across India.

The necessity of AEDs on flights came to light during an incident on Wednesday (November 27) when a passenger on a Dehradun-to-Pune flight experienced heart-related issues.

Fortunately, doctors traveling on the same flight were able to stabilize the passenger. However, such situations cannot always rely on the presence of medical professionals, which makes AEDs on airplanes crucial, according to Wandekar.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Wandekar has formally submitted a request to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to make AEDs a standard safety feature on all flights.