On National Nurses’ Day, Blumenthal Honors Hero Nurse From Niantic Who Helped Save Passengers On Skywest Flight 5622

(Hartford, CT) – Today, Wednesday, May 6, National Nurses’ Day, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will enter a statement into the Congressional Record honoring hero nurse Mary Cunningham of Niantic who helped save the lives of passengers on SkyWest Flight 5622. Cunningham, an emergency room nurse at Yale-New Haven Hospital, was aboard the flight from Chicago to Hartford on April 22 when a fellow passenger began to experience respiratory difficulties. She quickly responded to the call for medical assistance, providing aid to the ill passenger. As she began to return to her seat, another passenger lost consciousness. As she was assisting with that passenger, she and other passengers and crew members also began to feel dizzy. She urged the crew to make an emergency landing, which they did, landing in Buffalo. Seventeen passengers were evaluated by medical personnel, but in part due to Cunningham’s swift professionalism, all appear to have made a full recovery.

The full text of Blumenthal’s statement follows. 

Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute to a Connecticut resident who recently demonstrated extraordinary capability and heroism. Mary Elizabeth Cunningham, a resident of Niantic, who works an emergency room nurse at Yale-New Haven Hospital, was flying from Chicago to Hartford on April 22nd. When she heard an announcement over the loudspeaker seeking the assistance of any medical professionals on board, she quickly volunteered to help a passenger experiencing respiratory difficulties. After successfully providing aid, Ms. Cunningham was about to return to her seat when she was asked to help another passenger, who had lost consciousness. While assessing the situation, she began to feel dizzy herself, along with other passengers and members of the flight crew.

Despite the challenging circumstances, she did not panic but instead urged the flight crew to make an emergency landing, fearing something was wrong. The pilot swiftly landed the plane in Buffalo, and although seventeen passengers were later evaluated by medical personnel, it appears that everyone has made a full recovery. Had Ms. Cunningham not been on the plane to assist with handling the situation that might not have been the case.

Ms. Cunningham deserves the highest praise not just for her choice to become a health provider, but for her speedy and decisive actions to help those in need and recognizing a potentially disastrous situation. I am particularly pleased to recognize her on National Nurses’ Day, when we recognize the essential services that nurses provide in hospitals and communities all across the country. I know that all of Connecticut joins me in honoring and thanking Ms. Cunningham for her exemplary performance in the line of duty.