REGGIO CALABRIA, ITALY – An ITA Airways flight attendant with three children passed away suddenly onboard a Rome-bound flight from Reggio Calabria Airport, located in the southeast region of Naples, Italy. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon as passengers were boarding their flight.
57-year-old Gabriella Cario, was reportedly feeling ill at the boarding gate, but decided against seeking medical help in order to return home to her family. Unfortunately, her condition rapidly deteriorated as she boarded the plane, resulting in her untimely death within minutes. This shocking event unfolded in front of stunned passengers and colleagues.
Immediately following the incident, all passengers were instructed to disembark from the aircraft as on-site emergency medical personnel rushed inside. Attempts to revive Cario were unsuccessful. The flight, ITA Airways 1156, due to arrive at Rome Fiumicino, was rescheduled for later that evening as other flights faced delays.
Cario, a resident of Sabaudia near Latina, was traveling as a passenger and planned to head home after working as a flight attendant for ITA Airways. Her work involved servicing both domestic and international flights from Rome, although her roots were in Naples. A funeral service to honor Cario is scheduled for September 17 in Sabaudia.
Cario’s cause of death remains undetermined and is presently being attributed to a sudden illness. Mayor Alberto Mosca of Sabaudia described Cario as a vibrant, ever-smiling, and generous individual. On behalf of the local administration and the community, he expressed deep condolence to Cario’s husband and their three children.