A 71-year-old passenger died during a medical emergency aboard United Airlines Flight 142 on September 29, prompting the Boeing 787-9 to divert to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport during a nonstop service from Tokyo Narita to Denver.
The passenger, identified as Felmo M. Penola, was pronounced dead after the aircraft landed in Seattle. The King County Medical Examiner later determined the cause of death was hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease — conditions involving high blood pressure and arterial narrowing and hardening — and classified the death as natural.
Three firefighters traveling as passengers assisted with medical care before the aircraft reached Seattle. Emergency personnel met the aircraft on the ground, but Penola was pronounced dead at the airport. His remains were transferred to the King County Medical Examiner.
United noted that Seattle is among the closest major airports for trans-Pacific flights approaching the U.S. West Coast from Asia, making it a practical diversion point for this type of emergency. Once the necessary procedures were completed on the ground, the 787-9, registered N24980, continued to Denver and has since returned to normal service.
The diversion was not classified as an aviation accident. For crew operating long-haul oceanic routes, the incident is a reminder of how quickly a medical emergency can drive a divert decision and how crew coordinate with on-ground resources and available medical personnel — including passengers — before reaching an alternate.
