[[{“value”:”A 41-year-old Indiana woman passed away on a flight from the Dominican Republic after experiencing a “medical emergency” during the middle of the flight.
Stefanie Smith was returning from a couple’s trip in the Dominican Republic and flying into Charlotte, North Carolina, for a connecting flight.
While on the flight, Smith suddenly became restless.
Family and friends are also trying to figure out how a 41-year-old Indiana woman passed away while returning from vacation. https: //t. co/87K9UNW9JK
— WTHR.com ( @WTHRcom ) March 8, 2024
WTHR reports:
Smith and her boyfriend left Punta Cana to board a connecting flight in Charlotte. When her boyfriend realized something was wrong, the 41-year-old Danville woman was heading to the Indianapolis International Airport.
” He said he looked over to her, her eyes were rolled into the back of her head”, said Yannotti. ” Then she began convulsing”.
A flight attendant tried to help, but CPR did n’t save her. The plane had to land in Turks and Caicos after performing a health emergency diversion.
Smith was taken to a nearby hospital where he had died. Her family is also holding an autopsy in Turks and Caicos, where her body is also lying.
It’s been more than a week.
” We want answers, we want her body again, we only want her home”, said Smith’s brother, Chris Volz.
Stefanie Smith was on a flight headed for Charlotte, North Carolina, when she suffered a health emergency and died. https ://t.co/oABWuvQvas
— WFMY News 2 ( @WFMY) March 11, 2024
” I’d say the uncertainty, the hardly knowing how she died, the not knowing when her body will be returned to us, has been the hardest thing recently”, said Volz, according to People.
” It’s been a week so we’re past the first shock. But today, it’s the uncertainty”, he added.
From People:
He also shared that Smith’s “celebration of life” has a preliminary date, however, her body has never been released from the Turks and Caicos Hospital. He stated that the family is unsure of when she will receive her body and that they have not heard from American Airlines but are “hoping to find out immediately.”
Volz also spoke of his sister’s healthier lifestyle, explaining that she” coached cheering and softball, when her kids were younger”. Smith was a mother of two children: an 18- year- older son and a 16- year- old daughter.
” She was quite active”, said Volz. There was no sign of illness in the picture that she took with everyone just before she left.
He also previously told ABC News,” She was a special person… Her kids really…love her a lot, and I know she loved them”, Volz said. ” And so it’s hard”.
Along with Volz, Smith’s friend Maria Yannotti— who joined her on the vacation — even spoke with ABC News. Smith appeared healthier before the flight, according to Yannotti.
” She loves going to the gym every day, even while we were in the Dominican. She made it a priority to wake up every morning to work out at the gym and run on the beach, according to Yannotti.
WATCH:”}]] [[{“value”:”
A 41-year old woman from Indiana died on a flight to the Dominican Republic following a’medical crisis’ mid-flight.
Stefanie Smith flew into Charlotte, North Carolina for a connection flight after returning from a Dominican Republic couple’s vacation.
Smith became ill suddenly on the plane.
Family and friends are still trying to figure out how a 41-year-old Indiana woman died while she was on her way back from vacation.https://t.co/87K9UNW9JK
WTHR.com March 8, 2024
WTHR reports
Smith and her boyfriend flew from Punta Cana back to Charlotte for their connecting flight. When her boyfriend noticed something wrong, the 41-year-old Danville woman headed to the Indianapolis International Airport.
Yannotti said, “He said that he looked at her and her eyes were rolled to the back of her skull.” “Then, she began convulsing.”
CPR couldn’t save the woman, despite the efforts of a flight attendant. The plane was forced to land in Turks and Caicos due to a medical emergency.
Smith was declared dead at the hospital. Her body is still in Turks and Caicos where her family is waiting for an autopsy.
It’s been over a week.
Chris Volz, Smith’s brother said, “We want answers. We want her body returned. We just want her home.”
Stefanie Smith died on a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina after suffering a medical emergency. https://t.co/oABWuvQvas
WFMY News 2 @WFMY March 11, 2024
Volz told People that the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to her, or when her body would be returned, was the most difficult thing for him.
“It has been a week, so we are past the initial shock. “But now, the uncertainty is what’s bothering me,” he said.
From People:
He also revealed that Smith’s “celebration” of life has a tentative time; however, the Turks and Caicos Hospital has not released her body. He said that the family does not know when they will be receiving her body. They have also confirmed that they haven’t heard from American Airlines, but “hope to find out soon.”
Volz also spoke about his sister’s healthy life, explaining that “she coached cheerleading and Softball, when her children were younger.” Smith is a mother to two children, an 18-year old son and a sixteen-year-old girl.
Volz said, “She was very energetic.” “Right before leaving, she took pictures with everyone. There was no indication that there was a problem.”
Volz also told ABC News that “She was an exceptional person…Her children really…loved her a great deal, and I knew she loved them,” Volz stated. “And so, it’s hard.”
Smith’s friend Maria Yannotti, who accompanied her on vacation, also spoke to ABC News. Yannotti described how Smith looked healthy before the flight.
“She loves going every day to the gym, even when we were in Dominican.” Yannotti said that she made it a priority to get up early every morning and go to the beach to run or to the gym.
WATCH:
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