On a recent flight back to Des Moines from my vacation, a passenger had a medical emergency. A doctor on board attended to the patient after the flight attendant asked for a medical professional. I’m not sure what the condition was or whether its severity would have required an emergency landing, but we were far enough past any other major airport that making it to our final destination in Des Moines was our best option regardless. 

When we landed, a crew of first responders was already at our plane to assist the passenger. Kayla Kovarna, the communications, marketing and air service development manager at the airport, told me there is a very methodical and efficient process behind this response. Here’s what happens. 

If someone has a medical emergency on a flight, the flight attendants can respond to the passenger with some basic first-aid necessities and contacts the pilot. Each airline has a list of the medical equipment it has on board in case of emergencies. Those emergencies could range from panic attacks to blood pressure or sugar level issues, stroke, heart attack, etc. 

The pilot can get in touch with the airline’s corporate medical dispatch center, talk through what’s happening and determine the severity. If it’s really serious, they may need to divert the plane. If it’s a long haul, they may need to stop at the nearest airport. 

The airport gets involved after being contacted by either air traffic control or the dispatch center for the airline. The airport’s operations team would collect as much information as possible and disseminate it. Traffic control, for example, would need to know what time they’re landing. If needed, the fire and rescue team can get from the airport station to the gate in less than 90 seconds. 

“It’s truly that orchestrated,” Kovarna said. Through September, the airport has had 29 aircraft medical calls during 2019. If possible, the team tries to get the passenger to the gate because it’s easier to get passengers off the jet bridge than the stairs.

Depending on the emergency or whether transport to a hospital will be needed, the Des Moines Fire Department may also be called to dispatch fire crews or paramedics. The 24/7 ARFF services are required by the FAA, but the Des Moines airport employs more staff than required. The operations team has 13 employees, including the director of operations, among its shifts, and its highest priority is to uphold the safety of aircraft and the nearly 3 million passengers expected to come through the airport’s terminals this year.

“They are truly impressive, if you ask me,” Kovarna said.