Politics & Government

UPDATE: Congressman for the Pass Comes to Aid of Passenger on Flight

Update 2:40 p.m. Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, was en route to Palm Springs on Thursday after he assisted a passenger who collapsed on a flight from the Nation's Capital to Dallas-Forth Worth, the congressman's communications director said.

The D.C. to Dallas flight was diverted to Raleigh, N.C., where paramedics came aboard the plane to transport the man to a hospital, Ruiz spokesman Michael Ford said in a phone interview. An update on the man's condition was not available Thursday afternoon.

Ruiz was airborne and en route to Palm Springs as of 2:25 p.m. Oct. 24, Ford said.

Posted 1:35 p.m. Rep. Raul Ruiz, an emergency room physician who defeated Mary Bono Mack in the 36th Congressional District in November 2012, assisted a passenger who collapsed on a flight from the Nation's Capital to Dallas on Thursday morning, CBS-DFW reports.

The American Airlines plane was on its way to Dallas-Fort Worth from Washington, D.C., when the passenger collapsed, the CBS station reported. The plane made an emergency landing in Raleigh-Durham before arriving at DFW.

Ruiz's spokesman, Michael Ford, confirmed there was a medical emergency on the flight from D.C. to Texas.

"The passenger collapsed and Dr. Ruiz stepped in," Ford told Politico.

Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Texas, was with Ruiz and tweeted:

"Medical emergency on flight from DC to TX. Passenger collapses. @CongressmanRuiz, an MD, on board. Passenger stabilized. Landing in Raleigh."

Ruiz' 36th District includes the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass.


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