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Neelam Kothari faints on Etihad flight: Actor Neelam Kothari has raised serious concerns over an in-flight medical incident, alleging a lack of follow-up care by Etihad Airways after she fainted during a Toronto–Mumbai journey. The episode was shared publicly on social media, where the actor described what she called “mid-air neglect” and demanded accountability from the airline.
The incident was said to have occurred shortly after a meal was served onboard. According to Neelam, she fell seriously ill and lost consciousness during the flight, which had already been delayed by more than nine hours. Her experience was detailed in a post on X (formerly Twitter), where disappointment with the airline’s response was clearly expressed.
“Dear @etihad, I am extremely disappointed with the treatment I received on my recent flight from Toronto to Mumbai. Not only was my flight delayed by over 9 hours, but I also fell seriously ill onboard, fainting after a meal,” she wrote. It was further stated that assistance came not from the cabin crew, but from a fellow passenger who helped her return to her seat.
Neelam alleged that no member of the flight crew checked on her condition after the incident. “Despite a fellow passenger helping me back to my seat, I received no follow-up care or even a single check-in from your crew. I’ve tried contacting your customer service with no response. This level of neglect is unacceptable. Please address this matter urgently,” her post added.
Following the public complaint, Etihad Airways responded via X, asking the actor to connect privately so the issue could be examined. The airline wrote, “Hi Neelam. Sorry to hear about that! Please get in touch with us via DM to look into this for you and assist accordingly. Thanks! Rose.” No further update has yet been shared regarding any internal review.
The discussion gained further traction after a social media user appeared to dismiss the incident. When the comment read, “Seems like a you problem. But let me try to get something out of it,” a sharp response was issued by Neelam. “You wouldn’t be so flippant had it happened to you my friend, or one of your loved ones!” she replied, drawing support from many users online.
Neelam Kothari, 56, is a prominent star of Hindi cinema during the 1980s and 1990s, appeared in more than 30 films following her 1985 debut, including the blockbuster Hum Saath Saath Hain. After stepping away from films to focus on her jewellery business, she returned to public attention with Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives and a recent appearance in Made in Heaven.
