Renton Firefighter Makes In-Flight Rescue On Plane Headed To Sea-Tac

Renton firefighters Chris Kyrstofiak (l), and Marc Donnell.

RENTON, WA - A Renton firefighter, along with firefighters from Nampa, Idaho, and Grants Pass, Ore., aided an unconscious man aboard a flight from Baltimore to Sea-Tac on Friday night. This is the second in-flight rescue by a Renton firefighter this month.

On Friday, Firefighter Chris Kyrstofiak was traveling back to Seattle from training in Baltimore when Alaska Airlines flight attendants made an emergency announcement asking for help from any doctors or firefighters aboard the flight. Kyrstofiak, along with Nampa EMT Todd Cannon, helped stabilize the unconscious man, and gave him medical assistance for the rest of the flight.

Luckily, the passenger regained consciousness and was able to walk off the plane under his own strength, according to KOMO News.

Earlier this month, Renton firefighter Marc Donnell was flying to Los Angeles when a passenger became ill during the flight. Just like in Kyrstofiak's case, flight attendants asked for help, and Donnell responded. Donnell provided care for the patient with the flight crew and transferred the patient to emergency crews when the plane landed.

It's a strange coincidence that two Renton firefighters on two separate flights had to deal with an in-flight emergency, but Kyrstofiak says that firefighters are always thinking about helping out in emergency situations.

“It’s something you always wonder if you’re going to have to do,” he told KOMO News.

Image via Renton Firefighters IAFF 864