Israelis Aid Unconscious Passenger on Flight to Vienna

An Austrian Airlines flight from Washington to Vienna on the night of October 24th experienced a medical emergency when a passenger lost consciousness. Three fellow passengers, who later discovered they were all Israelis, came to the man's aid. The incident, recounted by one of the helpers, rehabilitation doctor Dana Gefen Doron, concluded positively with the passenger recovering.

Doron was returning to Israel to vote in the October 27th elections when a flight attendant announced a medical emergency and asked if any doctors were aboard. She identified herself, and as she approached the situation, she saw another passenger, identified as Israeli researcher and lecturer Regev Ben-David, already assisting the unconscious man. A third passenger, a psychiatrist, also joined them.

Ben-David, who had recently moved to Maryland with his family, was traveling to Israel for a conference. He explained that he instinctively responded to the call for help, despite lacking professional medical training beyond basic first aid from his military service. He helped move the passenger to a more accessible area where Doron and the psychiatrist could attend to him. The flight crew provided medical equipment, and the three Israelis worked together to stabilize the passenger.

During the process, it was revealed that all three helpers, along with the patient and his wife, were Israelis. The flight attendants expressed relief upon learning that Israelis were handling the medical situation. The passenger recovered consciousness and even made a lighthearted remark about voting. After landing in Vienna, the group shared coffee before continuing their journey to Tel Aviv.

Doron shared the story on Facebook, highlighting the spontaneous solidarity among the Israelis. Ben-David, who learned of the widespread attention his post received later, expressed his happiness at being part of an event that offered a moment of optimism and brotherhood during tense times. He noted the stark contrast between the focused help on the first flight and the typical lively atmosphere of a flight filled with Israelis returning home.