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A MALAYSIAN doctor couple became heroes at 35,000 feet after a passenger on a Singapore Airlines flight from Christchurch to Singapore suffered a severe allergic reaction.
Their swift action prevented an emergency diversion and ensured the man landed safely.
Wu Jin Feng and Tan Pei Jun, both 34, were travelling together when cabin crew announced a medical emergency around 1:30 pm New Zealand time, calling for any medical professionals onboard. The couple quickly responded.
“He was just coming around when we reached him,” Wu recalled.
“His wife said he had fainted for about two minutes.”
Upon assessment, the passenger’s condition was alarming: his heart rate had dropped to 38 beats per minute, oxygen levels were at 88%, and swelling around his lips and tongue, along with red rashes, pointed to a serious allergic reaction.
Complicating matters, he had a history of stroke and heart disease, and some onboard medical equipment was reportedly malfunctioning.
We first tried oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids, but his vitals remained unstable. Wu said in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao,
“His heart rate stayed between 55 and 60, oxygen between 88 and 92%. We were concerned he could go into shock again.”
The turning point came when they administered an adrenaline injection, stabilising his condition.
Throughout the remainder of the flight, Wu and Tan stayed in contact with ground medical teams, monitoring him until the plane landed safely at Singapore Changi Airport.
By then, the passenger no longer required oxygen or IV support and was fully conscious. Airport medics took over for further observation.
For Wu, this was déjà vu. He revealed this was the third in-flight medical emergency he had attended in just 45 days, following incidents on flights from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul in early April, and Auckland to Queenstown in May.
However, he noted that this allergic shock case was by far the most critical.
Wu, a former Penang Hospital doctor now in the private sector, and Tan, currently in specialist training at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta after completing her psychiatry exams in the UK, said they were just doing what any doctor would do.
“Flying can throw unexpected emergencies at you,” Wu said.
“Sometimes, it’s just about staying calm and acting quickly.” – May 13, 2026