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‘Emergency incident at OR Tambo International Airport responded to efficiently and effectively’: Acsa

Image: Nikita Nell

The Airports Company SA (Acsa) has clarified a medical situation involving an elderly traveller in the domestic departures section at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

Regional general manager of OR Tambo International Airport Jabu Khambule confirmed two calls were received at 12.09pm and 12.10pm, both reporting a medical emergency at gate E9 for domestic departures.

According to Acsa, the first call was from the Airlink boarding agent to the Acsa control room on the internal line and the second from Christopher Pappas.

Khambule said paramedics were dispatched and arrived at the scene at 12.16pm based on CCTV evidence.

“The passenger was treated by the paramedics on scene, and at the airport clinic before being referred to ARWYP Medical Centre in Kempton Park,” Khambule said.

Papas had stated on X (formerly Twitter): “Elderly lady experienced serious medical emergency. No staff knew what to do. Emergency phones unanswered. Security guards not helpful. Paramedics took far too long to arrive.”

Khambule, however, said paramedics had responded within 10 minutes, the response time stipulated in the service level agreement between Acsa and paramedics.

“This emergency was responded to in seven minutes from the time of the initial call made by the Airlink boarding agent and six minutes from the recorded call of Pappas. In view of these facts, the airport management team at ORTIA is satisfied that the incident was responded to efficiently and effectively and in line with the protocols and procedures in place,” Khambule said.

He said Acsa remains committed to upholding the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) standards and recommended practices (SARPs) for the safety, efficiency, and regularity of international civil aviation.

Acsa acknowledged the incident may have caused some trauma for bystanders who had witnessed the medical emergency unfold.

“We would like to apologise to our passengers and customers for any discomfort this may have caused.”

Source: TimesLIVE

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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