Who is Loni Liriina? Manipur doctor recounts saving woman struggling to breathe on Tokyo-Delhi Air India flight

When an emergency announcement echoed through an Air India flight from Tokyo to Delhi, Dr Loni Liriina didn’t hesitate. The Manipur-based medical professional quickly rose from her seat to find a passenger gasping for breath and suffering from acute chest pain. Drawing on six years of critical care expertise, the doctor stabilised the patient mid-flight using limited onboard medical supplies. In an exclusive chat with HT.com, she recounted the high-pressure diagnosis and the collaborative effort with the cabin crew that saved a life.Dr Loni Liriina is going viral for saving a patient on an Air India flight. (Dr Loni Liriina)Why is Loni Liriina going viral?A video of Liriina helping the patient went viral online, drawing positive and praiseful remarks from social media users.Who is Loni Liriina?Liriina hails from Senapathi Drict in Manipur. She has travelled across India for her studies and medical training.Also Read: ₹54,000 rent in America finds ‘second mother’ in Japanese landlady: ‘She is a sweetheart’”>Mumbai woman paying ₹54,000 rent in America finds ‘second mother’ in Japanese landlady: ‘She is a sweetheart’Despite her preference for privacy, she recognises that her story has become a source of pride for her community and colleagues. “But I’m just grateful and I’m happy to be representing everyone and bring good news for everyone, for my roots and also for the doctor fraternity.”Reflecting on the praise, she remains grounded, viewing the mid-air rescue as a simple extension of her medical oath. “One thing I wanted to say. I was quite surprised that this news is going viral because what I did was not anything extraordinary. It was something which all doctors are doing all over the world. And I’m sure it’s just something we do, it’s a part of our responsibility.”“Thanks to the Air India crew”Beyond her own medical intervention, Dr Liriina was quick to credit the Air India staff for their seamless cooperation during the crisis. “I actually wanted to appreciate the cabin crew members that day. They were very professional. They were well-trained. They were very eager to help me. They were very attentive to whatever instructions I was giving and they assed me very well in each and every step. So, I think I would really appreciate them also for that day.”