Turkish Airlines flight diverts to Houston after passenger suffers midair stroke

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Turkish Airlines flight diverts to Houston after passenger suffers midair stroke

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Turkish Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Turkish Airlines

By Sky Industry News

Jun 5, 2025

A Turkish Airlines flight en route from Istanbul to Mexico City was diverted to Houston after a passenger suffered a stroke mid-flight. The quick actions of an onboard doctor and the decision to reroute the plane potentially saved the woman's life.

The incident, reported by ABC 13 Eyewitness News, occurred on May 23. Maricela Hernandez Quezada collapsed while the flight was over the Atlantic Ocean. A doctor onboard recognized her symptoms as those of a stroke and administered oxygen before advising the flight crew to divert to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner took off from Istanbul at 02:20 UTC+03, slightly behind schedule, and was expected in Mexico City at 07:57 CDT. After the diversion, it landed in Houston at 06:40 CDT following a journey of over 12 hours.

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Upon arrival in Houston, Hernandez was quickly transported through Memorial Hermann emergency facilities for stabilization before being airlifted to Memorial Hermann in The Woodlands. There, surgeons successfully removed a blood clot from her brain.

ABC 13 has yet to identify the doctor who intervened during the flight. Hernandez expressed surprise over her condition given her healthy lifestyle and stated, "I felt my tongue come out, and I couldn't speak... I was kinda shocked because I knew I was healthy."

Doctors highlight that long flights can elevate stroke risks due to prolonged immobility causing blood clots. Passengers are advised to stay hydrated and move around every few hours during flights.

Thanks to timely medical intervention and hospital care, Hernandez is anticipated to recover fully without lasting effects.

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