Family of Indian man mourn his sudden inflight death

A 25-year-old Indian man travelling to India from Auckland suffered medical condition mid-air and passed away. 

Beant Singh Brar came to New Zealand three years ago on a spouse visa and lived with his wife in Palmerston North. He was travelling to meet his family in Moga district of Punjab, India. Mr Singh also has two sisters, one of whom is studying in New Zealand. 

Mr Singh travelled to Auckland with his wife from Palmerston North on the day of the flight and stayed with his cousin Manjinder Singh on Wednesday, June 11. Both dropped Mr Singh at the Auckland airport and headed back home in Auckland.

Mr Singh aboard Hong Kong Airlines scheduled 11:30 p.m on Wednesday, July 11 from Auckland, suffered a medical event mid-air and was given medical attention by a doctor travelling in the plane. The flight made an emergency landing at Darwin Airport in Australia, but Mr Singh could not be revived.

Mr Singh's wife received a call from the airport authorities on Thursday, July 13, with the news of her husband's sudden demise who then contacted Mr Singh's sisters and cousin Manjinder.

"I was at work when Beant's wife called me and gave me the news," Manjinder Singh told The Indian Weekender.

Later, Manjinder then booked a flight for Beant's wife and his sister who flew to New Delhi on Thursday night.

Honorary Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon told The Indian Weekender that the Indian embassy officials in Perth were handling the repatriation of the body back to India.

Manjinder is liaising with the funeral home and authorities in Darwin who said the official procedures are almost done, and the body will be flown back to India very soon.

Mr Beant Singh was scheduled to reach New Delhi at 3 a.m. (India time) from where he had planned his onward journey back home in Punjab.

Cousin Manjinder Singh started a fundraising drive on social media after the news to support his family financially, and the initiative raised $17,269 at the end of the fundraising as on Thursday, July 19. 

Deceased Beant Singh's family is waiting for the body to reach Delhi so that they can conduct his last rites.

"We are absolutely shocked, he was such a young, hard-working and happy person, can't fathom that he is more," Manjinder told The Indian Weekender.