16/05/2026
35,000 Feet Above Ground — A Doctor’s Duty Never Stops
A Safe Landing for a Human Life
Some journeys test not just skill, but the very spirit of being a doctor.
While travelling from Pune to Goa on an Indigo flight, suddenly an announcement came — “Is there any doctor on board?”
A fellow passenger was unresponsive. I checked his pulse — feeble, slow… and within moments, he became pulseless.
There was no ICU, no monitors, no crash cart. Just limited space, limited resources, and a life slipping away in front of us.
With the help of the crew, we moved him into the front aisle. At that moment, the anesthetist inside me took control. I felt like the pilot of that situation — responsible for ensuring a safe landing for a human life.
CPR was started immediately. Pulse returned. Rhythm normalized. I asked the crew to elevate his legs. Thankfully, the emergency kit had an AMBU bag, and we began ventilating him.
Slowly, his pulse volume improved. He started responding.
There were 3–4 doctors on board, but moments like these remind me why anesthetists are trained to stay calm in chaos — to think clearly when seconds decide outcomes.
Today, I did not save a “case.” I helped save a human life.
The passenger may never remember my name. But I will always remember that somewhere between Pune and Goa, with limited resources and teamwork, we brought someone back.
And once again, I felt proud to be a doctor.
Despite the long hours, sacrifices, stress, and unseen struggles — medicine remains one of the noblest professions because at its heart lies service to mankind.
Doctors are not just trained to treat diseases.
We are trained to stand between life and death when humanity calls upon us.
Moments like these give me courage to tell the next generation:
If you truly want a life of purpose, compassion, courage, and service — becoming a doctor is still one of the greatest callings in the world.
Dr Uttam Sidhaye
