'He screamed out he felt like he was going to die': Boy, 9, who had a fatal asthma attack on a flight from Auckland to Samoa knew he was dying
- Boy, 9, suffered fatal asthma attack on Boxing Day flight from Auckland to Samoa
- He said he felt like he was going to die, 30 minutes after leaving New Zealand
- Grieving family want to know why the plane didn't make an emergency landing
The nine-year-old boy who suffered a fatal asthma attack on a flight from Auckland to Samoa knew he was going to die, his family have said.
A spokeswoman for the boy's family said he screamed that he felt he was going to die around 30 minutes after the plane took off on Boxing Day.
His family requested that the flight turn around but they were forced to endure a traumatic three hours before the boy tragically died around 20 minutes before the Samoa Airways flight landed.
The family are now demanding answers after experts said it would have been possible to turn the plane around.
It comes a week after a moving memorial service where the boy was remembered as an intelligent and high-achieving youngster.
The boy's primary school teacher also gave a moving eulogy, describing him as an energetic, maths whizz, who died on his way to a family reunion.
Boy who suffered fatal asthma attack on flight to Samoa said he felt like he was going to die
Following the funeral, a woman speaking on behalf of the family raised questions as to why the plane was not turned around.
The family spokeswoman told the NZ Herald they were concerned suitable procedures were not in place to deal with emergencies of this nature.
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'We have nothing but praise for the flight attendants, but question whether the pilot followed best practice operational procedures,' she said.
'Many are saying that the plane should have turned back for Auckland.'
'[He] screamed out 30 minutes into the flight that he felt like he was going to die.'
Family members want to know why the pilot didn't turn back or perform an emergency landing
Aviation experts weighed in on the debate and agreed there should have been an opportunity for an emergency landing.
Acknowledging the limited places in the Pacific to perform this, Aviation New Zealand's Bill MacGregor also said 'If you were only 30 minutes out, a return to Auckland would've been on.'
The family spokeswoman called for transparency and hoped better procedures would be followed in future emergencies to avoid other families suffering.
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