A Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant died Thursday night on a flight bound for New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to a Hawaiian Airlines statement.
Emile Griffith, the attendant, had worked with Hawaiian Airlines for 31 years.
Ann Botticelli, a representative of Hawaiian Airlines, said the airline was "deeply saddened" by Griffith's passing.
"Emile both loved and treasured his job at Hawaiian and always shared that with our guests. Our hearts are with Emile's family, friends and all those fortunate to have known him," Botticelli wrote Business Insider.
Hawaiian Airlines Flight 50 left Honolulu about 4:15 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to the airline. The plane landed about five hours later at 11:05 p.m. local time.
LIVE FROM SFO: @SaraStinsonNews talks to a passenger aboard the Hawaiian Airlines flight that was diverted to SF after a flight attendant died onboard https://t.co/jwFVxr3gkw pic.twitter.com/mdXpssQllg
— KRON4 News (@kron4news) January 25, 2019
Hawaii News Now reported that Griffith had suffered a "medical emergency." The outlet also reported that a doctor and paramedic on the flight assisted.
"We are forever grateful for Emile's colleagues and good Samaritans on board who stayed by his side and provided extensive medical help," Botticelli said.
One passenger told Hawaii News Now that Hawaiian Airlines did not inform passengers of the death until after they had made the emergency landing in San Francisco. After that, passengers waited for about two hours for the coroner to arrive.
There were 253 passengers and 12 crew members on board.
A passenger said on Twitter that Hawaiian Airlines paid for passengers to stay in a hotel as they arranged for a new flight for the passengers. All passengers were to be reaccomodated on the first available flights and would receive compensation, Botticelli added.
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