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AirAsia diverts M'sia-bound flight to Vietnam to help child struggling to breathe
The crew spoke with the pilot to ask if the altitude could be lowered a little, and the pilot acted swiftly.
July 09, 2025, 05:52 PM
A mother was on a flight back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Jul. 4 when her one-year-old child's face and lips turned pale, and she began to struggle to breathe.
Thanks to the quick response from the flight's cabin crew, the aircraft managed to take a quick detour to the nearest airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The mother shared her experience on Facebook the next day, saying that AirAsia staff were very caring and attentive throughout the distressing situation.
What happened
Jacyntha Florentius, 30, was on an early morning flight home from Guangzhou, China, after a work trip with her husband and their daughter, Natashya, who was sound asleep when they boarded the aircraft.
An hour and a half into the journey, Florentius said Tashya woke up and looked restless, crying one moment and quiet the next.
She told Mothership that Tashya has been travelling since she was two months old, and nothing like this has happened before.
"Then her face turned pale, [her] lips went pale, and she looked like she was struggling to breathe, weak, and not very responsive," Florentius said.
She said she immediately picked her child up and patted her back, as well as rubbed her hands and feet.
Florentius felt slightly panicked but promptly asked the cabin crew for an oxygen mask, drawing on her training as a nurse. The crew responded immediately.
After Tashya wore the mask, her lips started to turn pink again.
The cabin crew then made an announcement asking if there were any doctors on board, to which a woman checked Tashya right away.
"The crew also spoke with the pilot to ask if the altitude could be lowered a little, and the pilot acted swiftly," Florentius explained.
The pilot also announced that the flight would be diverted to the nearest airport, which was in Ho Chi Minh City, for medical attention.
Florentius also noted that during the 30-minute descent, the crew would continue to check on Tashya, massaging her hands and feet, as well as checking her pulse.
"They were so caring," she remarked.
Florentius explained that a medical team was already on standby the moment they landed in Ho Chi Minh City, where they boarded the plane to assess Tashya and decided the family should disembark for hospital checks.
The family left the plane and was escorted straight to an ambulance by ground staff, where luggage was also quickly offloaded.
An AirAsia staff member stayed with the family throughout their entire time at the hospital, where Tashya received fast-track treatment and all tests, including ECG, echocardiogram, and X-ray, were done within an hour.
Medical results showed that Tashya's sickness may be due to altitude sickness.
Fortunately, her medical lab & report all came back normal, with no abnormalities.
AirAsia also provided the family a free flight to return to Kuala Lumpur, where Ho Chi Minh ground staff assisted them til they were in the boarding room.
Listing out the names of all the people that helped them, Florentius ended the post saying:
"Please reward your staff above as they already did a very good job during this situation."
Florentius told Mothership that other parents travelling with infants, toddlers, or children should make sure they eat and shower before their flight, as well as have their children stay hydrated.
"In case this happens, don't panic & quickly ask for oxygen from the crew," she said.
AirAsia's statement
In response to Mothership's queries, AirAsia Malaysia CEO, Fareh Mazputra, said:
“All of us at AirAsia are incredibly moved by the story shared by our guest, Ms. Jacyntha Florentius, following flight AK115 from Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur on Jul. 4, 2025, and we’re relieved to know that her daughter is well."
Thanking Florentius for recognising the professionalism and compassion shown by the AirAsia crew during a distressing situation, he also said he was grateful to all guests onboard for their patience and understanding throughout the diversion.
"While our crew is trained to handle a wide range of in-flight situations, the empathy and composure they showed in this moment truly stood out," Mazputra said, adding their actions are deeply appreciated and recognised.
He remarked:
"I would also like to thank the medical professional onboard who stepped forward to assist - your presence and expertise made a meaningful difference. This situation is a powerful reminder that behind every flight are not only dedicated individuals but also a caring community committed to the well-being of one another.”
Top image via @flyairasia/Instagram and Jacyntha Florentius/Facebook
