ByJonathan Kalmus, Jonathan Kalmus
Passengers and cabin crew were left stunned as a man died on board a Jet2 plane from Israel to Manchester on Tuesday.
Stewardesses ran with oxygen masks to try to revive 85-year-old Philip Cohen, from Crumpsall, whose health had declined rapidly an hour into the flight. But he was pronounced dead immediately by Prestwich GP Dr Jonathan Liebermanwho was also on board.
The doctor helped to cover the deceased and laid him across three seats for the remainder of the flight.
The cause of Mr Cohen's death is unclear, but he boarded the plane with a nurse and a fitness-to-fly certificate from doctors at Netanya's Laniado Hospital. Passengers said cabin crew were reluctant to allow him to board.
Akiva Reich, who was returning from a family wedding, said: "As the plane took off, we saw him losing a bit of colour, he didn't seem well at all.
"Everyone started running around a bit. A stewardess asked him if he wanted a drink, but he didn't respond. Stewardesses were crying and said they had never had anything like this before. It was traumatic for some children who were sitting next to him."
After establishing that nothing more could be done for Mr Cohen, the captain decided not to make an emergency landing.
Leonard Seitler, returning from a family barmitzvah, said: "Despite it being uncomfortable, everybody was grateful the flight wasn't diverted and carried on to Manchester."
The plane landed 45 minutes early and was met by police and ambulance staff after gaining priority landing clearance. Mr Cohen's body was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary. He was a member of Heaton Park Synagogue, and his family were this week awaiting the results of an MRI scan on the cause of death.
Dr Lieberman praised Jet2 for allowing him to make an in-flight radio call to ground staff to organise Jewish burial volunteers to help on arrival. But, he said: "In retrospect staff were clearly in a difficult position. Assuming this man had a fitness-to-fly letter it would be difficult not to allow him to do so. Clearly, there will have to be an investigation. "
A spokesman for Jet2 said: "We have to accept that a medical practitioner had deemed Mr Cohen fit to fly. There are ramifications about challenging that. As it was a very serious occurrence we produced a detailed incident report for this flight."