Girl, 8, dies after flight from Joplin to Chicago makes emergency landing

JOPLIN, Mo. (KSNF) — An 8-year-old girl on a flight from Joplin to Chicago died Thursday morning after the plane made an emergency landing in Peoria.

United Airlines 5121 took off at 6:00 a.m. Thursday (6/13) from the Joplin Regional Airport.

About 45 minutes after departing from Joplin, flight data shows the CRJ-200 aircraft en route to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, began an early descent from 31,000 feet, south of Peoria, Illinois.

According to the Peoria County Sheriff's Office, the plane was diverted due to a medical emergency on board, and landed at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport around 7:00 a.m.

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When the plane landed, emergency crews which included EMS, Air National Guard Fire, and Peoria County Sheriff's Office Deputies took the young girl off the plane and immediately began life-saving measures.

“Upon landing in Peoria, she was not breathing and had no pulse,” the Peoria County Coroner’s Office said in a statement.

The child was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The coroner’s office identified the girl as Sydney Weston, 8, from Carl Junction. Weston was traveling with her family for vacation when she suddenly became ill and then unresponsive in flight.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday (6/14).

A spokesperson for the flight's operator, SkyWest released a statement confirming the flight was diverted due to a passenger in “medical distress.”

“We appreciate the efforts of our crewmembers who responded quickly to assist and the medical personnel who met the aircraft,” the spokesperson said.

Flight data shows United 5121 continued on to Chicago O'Hare from Peoria International just before 1:00 p.m. Thursday.