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After departing Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) just before midnight, Volaris flight 3358 touched down at Tapachula Airport (TAP) a little after 5:00 AM on Wednesday, but, tragically, one of the passengers aboard had passed away enroute. A 28-year-old woman named Abidai López Solís was found dead in her seat on a commercial airliner after it landed in Chiapas, Mexico.
Flight 3358 reportedly proceeded smoothly with no medical emergencies reported midair. The flight had arrived slightly earlier than usual, completing the trek from Mexico’s Northern border with the US down to its southern tip about 20 minutes ahead of time. Solís had been traveling back to her hometown to visit family, according to the New York Post.
How A Death In The Cabin Went Unnoticed En Route
No details about the exact cause or circumstances surrounding Solís’ untimely death have been shared with the public at this time. In the interest of respecting her family and to avoid stoking undue public fear, there may never be a disclosure to that effect. Ultimately, guessing what may or may not have happened to the unfortunate young woman is purely speculation.
It is also unclear why the cabin crew did not receive notice of a medical emergency or notice any distress from Solís during the four-hour flight. The fact that she was traveling on a ‘red-eye’ flight may help explain how flight attendants and other passengers missed her.
On overnight flights, cabin lights are systematically turned off to allow passengers to sleep. It is entirely normal for passengers on a red-eye flight to remain completely still, slumped over, or wearing eye masks and headphones for hours. Surrounding travelers likely assumed she was deeply asleep, and the cabin crew probably thought it best not to disturb any flyers who appeared to be resting.
Mexico’s Second-Longest Nonstop Domestic Air Service
Volaris is the only airline that operates nonstop, a direct service between Tijuana and Tapachula, which makes the route very popular for flyers heading to the city near the Mexican border with Guatemala. Many travelers who want to avoid a layover in Mexico City choose this red-eye flight to save time.
The direct route doesn’t fly every day. Depending on seasonal demand, Volaris runs direct flights three and five times per week. At roughly 1,970 miles (3,170 km), this is the longest domestic flight route operating out of Tapachula International Airport. According to Flightradar24, flight 3358 was operated by an Airbus A320neo, registered as XA-VSD.
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December is the most popular month of the year for overall traffic, as cooler winter weather attracts out-of-town tourists and holiday festivities bring locals home. The only other route that is longer than TIJ-TAP in Mexico is the flights from Tijuana to Cancun (CUN), which are also flown by Volaris but not exclusively, as Viva Aerobus offers the itinerary as well.
The Aftermath Of Volaris Flight 3358
If a medical emergency occurs in flight that requires active intervention, flight attendants initiate first aid or CPR, depending on the situation. They also request assistance from any onboard medical professionals to support lifesaving measures. In the tragic case of Solís, that was not done, and the only action possible was post-mortem measures to preserve the dignity of the deceased and minimize trauma to other travelers.
During the Volaris incident, regular passengers exited the aircraft normally while airport security and emergency responders held the immediate row of the deceased. All other passengers disembarked first. Once the cabin was clear, paramedics from Civil Protection and the Red Cross boarded the plane.
The emergency responders officially evaluated the body for any vital signs and formally declared the death. The body of Solís was then discreetly removed from the aircraft, wrapped respectfully in a sheet, and transported directly to a local forensic medical service for an official autopsy to rule out foul play.
