Elderly passenger dies onboard flight to New York

The 71-year-old passenger had a heart attack

An elderly passenger has died onboard a United flight to Newark (iStock)

An elderly passenger has died onboard a transatlantic flight from Germany to New York.

United Airlines flight UA961 was around two hours into its journey to Newark airport from Frankfurt when the 71-year-old woman suffered breathing problems.

Other passengers began performing CPR on the woman, according to the Irish Sun, and an onboard defibrillator was also used.

It’s believed she suffered a heart attack.

The jet then diverted to Shannon airport in western Ireland, where it was met by an ambulance, although the passenger was pronounced dead shortly after the flight landed.

A United Airlines spokesperson said in a statement: “United Flight 961 travelling from Frankfurt to Newark diverted to Shannon due to a medical emergency onboard.

“Medical personnel met the aircraft at the gate. We are deeply saddened to learn that our customer passed away and we are assisting the family.”

The flight then continued onto Newark, where it arrived around three and a half hours late.

In January, a passenger onboard a Hong Kong to Auckland flight died. The jet diverted to Cairns in Australia, but he is understood to have died on the descent.