On Friday, the Maharashtra leader's flight was slightly delayed after one of the pilots fell ill. According to an official statement issued by the Deputy CM’s office on Saturday, the delay proved crucial in helping a patient reach Mumbai in time for her transplant surgery
During the flight, Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde interacted with the patient and inquired about her medical treatment. Pic/X
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde came to the aid of a woman in urgent need of a kidney transplant by flying her and her husband from Jalgaon to Mumbai in his chartered plane after the couple missed their scheduled commercial flight on Friday night, reported news agency PTI.
The incident took place at Jalgaon airport, where Shinde’s flight was slightly delayed after one of the pilots fell ill. According to an official statement issued by the Deputy CM’s office on Saturday, the delay proved crucial in saving the woman’s chances of reaching Mumbai in time for her transplant surgery.
“Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was on a visit to Muktainagar in Jalgaon district on Friday to attend the Sant Muktabai Palkhi departure ceremony. While returning to Mumbai, his flight experienced a brief delay at Jalgaon airport. That delay turned out to be life-saving for a woman in urgent need of a kidney transplant,” the statement said.
The patient had reached the airport hoping to board a commercial flight to Mumbai for her scheduled surgery. However, by the time she arrived, the flight had already departed, reported PTI.
Local activists at the airport, upon learning of the situation, quickly contacted state Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, who then requested Deputy CM Shinde to assist. Without hesitation, Shinde arranged for the patient and her husband to travel in his chartered aircraft.
During the flight, Shinde also interacted with the patient and inquired about her medical treatment and overall condition. Upon arrival in Mumbai, the Deputy CM ensured that a special ambulance was ready to transport her to the hospital and personally oversaw her admission, PTI reported.
“The pilot was not keeping well. There were issues related to time and technical concerns. We spoke to the company, which contacted the pilot, and the aircraft eventually flew. It was a very minor issue,” Mahajan told reporters in Jalgaon.
Mahajan, along with Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil, also tried to persuade the pilot to continue the journey despite his illness.
Patil, who is also the guardian minister of Jalgaon district, praised the Deputy CM’s intervention.
“Eknath Shinde has once again proven that he remains devoted to the common citizen. His intervention in this case has not only saved a life but reaffirmed the values of empathy and public service,” Patil said.
He added, “Because of the flight delay, the patient was saved. Eknath Shinde saheb took the patient on board. The patient was supposed to reach Mumbai before 1 am. We feel the delay in the flight benefitted the patient.”
However, an official update from the Deputy CM’s office on Saturday revealed that the transplant surgery could not proceed as the kidney did not match the donor.
(With PTI inputs)
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