8-year-old girl dies after emergency aboard flight to Chicago

JOPLIN, Mo. ( KSNF ) — A flight from Joplin, Missouri, to Chicago was diverted early Thursday for a mid-flight medical emergency involving a child. The 8-year-old was rushed to the hospital but did not survive, authorities said.

United Airlines 5121 took off at 6 a.m. June 13 from the Joplin Regional Airport.

About 45 minutes after departing from Joplin, flight data shows the CRJ-200 aircraft en route to Chicago O’Hare, began an early descent from 31,000 feet, south of Peoria, Illinois.

According to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office , the plane was diverted due to a medical emergency on board, and landed at Peoria International Airport about an hour after takeoff.

When the plane landed, emergency crews including EMS, Air National Guard Fire and Peoria County Sheriff’s Office Deputies took a girl, age 8, off the plane and immediately began life-saving measures.

The child was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Flight data shows the aircraft continued on to Chicago O’Hare from Peoria International just before 1 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.