A Moscow–Hanoi flight turned into a dramatic scene when a passenger suffered a hypertensive crisis mid-air, only to be saved by Russia’s Health Minister, Mikhail Murashko, who happened to be on board.
According to a local news outlet, the incident occurred three hours into the journey when a 50-year-old passenger fell seriously ill.
The cabin crew issued an urgent call for medical assistance, fearing the crisis could escalate into a heart attack.
By sheer chance, Murashko, a trained physician, was on the same flight en route to Vietnam on an official visit.
He immediately stepped in, calming the patient, providing treatment, and stabilising him within an hour.
?? Russian Health Minister Saves Life Mid-flight
On a Moscow–Hanoi flight, a 50-year-old passenger suffered a hypertensive crisis. The crew called for help, and by chance, Russia’s Health Minister Mikhail Murashko was onboard.
Murashko treated the man, stabilized him within an… pic.twitter.com/xKG1HqO6PV
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) September 14, 2025
“The cabin crew asked whether any medical professionals were on board who could provide emergency aid, and it happened that Minister Murashko was among the passengers. He immediately intervened to treat and reassure the man, who returned to a stable condition after about an hour,” the outlet wrote.
The man completed the flight safely and was reported to be in stable condition upon arrival in Hanoi.
Murashko, 58, has served as Russia’s Minister of Health since January 2020.
Before his appointment, he headed the federal health watchdog Roszdravnadzor and held senior roles in regional healthcare administration.
His medical background, in this case, proved lifesaving.
The dramatic rescue has since gone viral, with Kenyans on social media drawing comparisons to their own cabinet.
Many questioned whether Kenyan ministers, if caught in a similar situation, could step in with professional expertise outside politics.
“Imagine if our Cabinet was picked on merit like this. A health minister who can actually save lives mid-flight!” one X user wrote.
Others pointed out that such moments highlight the need for leaders whose professional training and background align with their portfolios.
The online debate has quickly expanded beyond Murashko’s heroics, with Kenyans reflecting on governance, professionalism, and the importance of merit in public service appointments.