Aasandha Company Limited has stated that the authorities were unable to transfer the recently deceased 13-year-old from Villingili, Gaafu Alifu Atoll, to Male' City due to a last-minute technical issue with the scheduled flight. The child had been admitted to the hospital in Villingili Hospital on January 18 but passed away while undergoing further treatment in the ICU of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
In a statement, Aasandha stated that the emergency evacuation request to move the patient from Villingili Hospital to IGMH was received at 0503hrs on January 18. The approval for evacuation was granted within 12 minutes of receiving the request, and the flight was informed at 0519hrs. However, the earliest scheduled flight from Kooddoo Airport was at 0555hrs on January 19. In response, immediate arrangements for a chartered flight were made.
Additionally, The chartered flight was set to land at Kooddoo Airport at 1455hrs on January 18 and return to Male' at 1620hrs on the same day. A sea ambulance was arranged at 1445hrs to transport the patient from Villingili to Kooddoo.
While these plans were underway, Kooddoo Airport informed at 1140hrs on January 18 that a flight from Male' to Kooddoo was available and could bring the child to Male' as early as 1350hrs. Unfortunately, the evacuation could not proceed as intended due to a last-minute technical issue with the flight. As such, a chartered flight was organised and the child arrived in Male' at 1715hrs on January 18.
In the statement, Aasandha emphasised the importance of presenting accurate information in sensitive cases, as some parties have disseminated misleading reports about the incident.