9/15/08 - Taking the redeye across the country and I was half listening to United's channel 9 frequency and head a distress call from Delta flight 648 (LAX - JFK).

The pilot asked for an immediate diversion to Kansas City. KC Center came back instantly with a heading and descend instructions. Then came back and asked what was the nature of the incident. Pilot said they have a passenger, unknown age, with a possible (but the tone didn't sound too possible) heart attack and that they have a doctor on board.

Center asked if they could use runway 1, and that any runway was available. Pilot responded that rwy 1 was fine. Center asked what emergency equipment was needed and the pilot responded with what ever they can provide. Last transmission I heard was Center's instructions to switch 648 to another frequency.

Anyone hear about this? Hope the guy was ok.

Nat's off to the the pilot and the Center controller who acted so professionally at 3 am to get that plane down. It was chilling.

Well it was in MCI @ 0355 and left at 0430. So they were there only a short period of time!

Well the pax is O.K. I guess because he is out of the hospital and on a flight from MCI to EWR right now. Why he's going to EWR instead of JFK - I don't know.

Also....DL648 left MCI at 0535LCL time. I suppose they had no fueler til 5AM.

KD

Thanks KD. Good to here the person is well enough to fly. I guess when you divert a flight it really doesn't matter what airport they get you back to... They got him down in twenty minutes from 36000' and looks like they were on the ground for an hour.
Thanks again.