A Family’s Nightmare Mid-Flight
A father of two, who experienced a severe stroke during a flight to a dream family vacation, is now stranded in Malaysia after collapsing in front of his wife and daughters on the plane. The incident has turned what was supposed to be a much-needed summer break into a life-changing ordeal for the family.
Noor Haris, a 55-year-old medical doctor from Malaysia currently living in Newcastle, has shared her harrowing experience for the first time. Her husband, Mohd, 51, suffered a stroke just hours before their British Airways flight from Newcastle to Kuala Lumpur was set to land on July 4. He collapsed in front of their two daughters, aged 16 and 18, during the journey.
Recalling the event, Noor described how the situation unfolded. “It was around 6am, I had gone to get a drink, and my husband needed the toilet. That’s when he fell on the floor and collapsed. He could not move his left arm or leg; they were completely dead. That’s when we realized he was having a stroke.”
The family had boarded the British Airways flight on July 3 at 5:30pm from Newcastle, via London Heathrow, heading to Malaysia for their children’s school holidays. The trip was meant to offer respite after a difficult period, as Mohd had previously suffered a stroke in March 2025 and spent two months recovering in the hospital.
Despite receiving medical clearance to fly and using a walking stick, the family felt hopeful about the trip. However, disaster struck again during the early hours over Asia. Noor recounted how she insisted to the crew that her husband was having a stroke. Displaying remarkable composure under pressure, Noor, a full-time working doctor, cared for her husband with the help of compassionate crew members and a fellow doctor on board.
An anonymous medical professional assessed her husband and checked on him every half-hour to monitor his condition. The staff provided clean pajamas, and Noor managed to clean him up and settle him back into his seat. She mentioned that there was a discussion about diverting the flight, but due to his stable condition, the decision was made to continue the journey.
Speaking about the moment Mohd collapsed in the narrow aisle, Noor admitted she “blanked out everything because I knew in my mind what was going on.” As a medical professional, she remained calm, but her daughters were visibly shaken. She couldn’t bear to look at their faces.
Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, paramedics were waiting on the tarmac, having been alerted by the crew. Noor expressed relief that the family managed to go through immigration, board an ambulance, and reach a local A&E within an hour. “As soon as we arrived, he was wheeled in, they put a cannula in his arm and went straight for a CT scan.”
The scans confirmed a new stroke—right pontine infarct and left parieto-occipital infarct. Mohd now suffers from left-sided weakness and is being tube-fed due to the risk of aspiration. Doctors identified him as a strong candidate for intensive rehabilitation, but the family’s life has been thrown into limbo.
Meant to return on July 22, Noor has remained at the hospital with her husband 24/7, while their daughters stay with relatives. Despite some improvement in movement, Mohd still struggles with daily tasks and faces challenges with his mental health. He often feels depressed, believing he has ruined everything.
The crisis has also taken a toll on Noor, both emotionally and financially. She was supposed to return to work on July 24 but is now negotiating her return date. There is uncertainty about her daughters’ future as one is starting university and both are waiting for school results.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Noor and her family as they face growing costs for living expenses, potential repatriation, and their daughters’ education. The fundraiser reads: “Noor has always been a pillar of strength—for her family, and for everyone around her. Now, I hope we can be her support.”
Despite the trauma, Noor praises British Airways staff for their support and professionalism. She believes the decision to continue the flight was the right one, as the clot causing the stroke may have moved by the time they reached Malaysia.
For now, the family’s future remains uncertain, but Noor remains determined to hold it all together.
