A passenger experienced anaphylactic shock on a Virgin Australia flight from Perth to Newman, Western Australia, on January 4.
Incident Details
Andrew Rawle, a resident of Newman, reported an allergic reaction minutes into the flight after consuming a plate of cheese and crackers. Mr. Rawle, who has known allergies to nuts and certain medications, reported symptoms consistent with anaphylaxis. He self-administered an EpiPen from his hand luggage.
Approximately 20 minutes later, Mr. Rawle experienced a resurgence of symptoms. Cabin crew provided oxygen and sought medical assistance onboard. When no medical professional was available, another passenger provided a second EpiPen, which Mr. Rawle then administered.
Flight Response and Aftermath
Following the second reaction, the flight crew expedited the journey to Newman. Upon arrival at Newman Airport, an ambulance was waiting and transported Mr. Rawle to Newman Hospital, where he received adrenaline.
Virgin Australia declined to comment on the specific incident. Cabin crew are trained in anaphylaxis management as part of their aviation medicine curriculum. EpiPens are not routinely included in aircraft first aid kits; passengers are advised to carry their own necessary medications and declare severe allergies before flying.
Possible Cause and Future Precautions
Mr. Rawle noted that he had only consumed non-allergenic food and hypothesized that residual allergens from a previous flight might have been present on the safety information card or within the seat pocket of the new Embraer E190-E2 aircraft.
Mr. Rawle later contacted Virgin Australia to commend the staff's actions and offered to thank the passenger who provided the second EpiPen; the offer was declined. He stated he plans to adopt additional precautions for future flights, including wearing gloves and masks, and carrying multiple EpiPens.