Taipei, Taiwan: EVA Air is under global scrutiny following the death of a 34-year-old flight attendant, identified by the surname Sun, who reportedly fell ill during a long-haul flight from Milan to Taipei. The attendant sought medical treatment upon arrival at Taoyuan Airport on September 25 and was initially treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou. She was later transferred to China Medical University Hospital in Taichung, where she passed away on October 10.
Reports indicate that Sun had informed her cabin chief about receiving an injection at the airport for pain and fever before being referred to a hospital’s rheumatology department. Doctors suspected Adult-Onset Still’s Disease (AOSD), a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by high fevers, salmon-colored rashes, sore throat, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes.
The condition affects roughly 1 in 100,000 people worldwide and can lead to severe complications such as pericarditis, pneumonia, or macrophage activation syndrome, which carries a high mortality rate.
The Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union has called for better care and support for sick flight attendants, urging EVA Air to ease sick leave rules. EVA Air has launched an internal investigation, and Taiwan labor authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding Sun’s death.
EVA Air is currently facing a public relations fallout on multiple fronts. The story has gone global, fueling anger over reports that cabin leadership failed to call in medical support teams or summon an ambulance for a severely ill employee.
A viral social media post, reportedly shared by fellow crew members, claimed that Sun’s appeals for rest and medical aid were disregarded. It further suggested that many EVA Air flight attendants avoid taking sick or personal leave due to concerns that doing so could negatively impact their performance scores and bonuses.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) stated it would closely oversee EVA Air’s response to the incident and assess whether the airline complied with all required safety and labor standards.
