(Cupventi.com) – A Missouri coroner has revealed the cause of death of an 8-year-old girl who died during a SkyWest flight earlier this summer. Sydney Weston, a resident of Carl Junction, Missouri, experienced a medical emergency on SkyWest Flight 5121, operating as United Express, from Joplin, Missouri to Chicago. The flight took off on June 13.
The Peoria County Coroner’s Office stated that Weston’s family promptly alerted flight personnel about her condition, who then provided immediate assistance. However, upon landing in Peoria, Weston was found not breathing and without a pulse.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood disclosed that Weston’s death was due to complications from “chronic primary adrenalitis,” an inflammation of the adrenal glands located atop the kidneys. Harwood’s statement detailed that after a thorough autopsy and extensive ancillary studies, it was determined that Weston’s death resulted from complications of chronic primary adrenalitis amidst multiple infections, including strep and enterovirus.
“Infections can trigger an acute adrenal insufficiency crisis in those with chronic adrenal disease,” Harwood explained. He also noted that Weston suffered from duodenitis, an inflammation of the small intestine, and thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid gland.
The autopsy findings suggested that Weston had an autoimmune disorder. “The diagnoses of chronic adrenalitis, duodenitis, and thyroiditis point to an underlying autoimmune disorder,” the statement continued. An autoimmune disorder occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in organs and tissues, disrupting their normal function.
In June, SkyWest reported to FOX Business that the flight was diverted to Peoria, Illinois, to provide medical assistance to Weston. The airline expressed gratitude for the quick response of their crew members and the medical personnel who met the aircraft.