8-Year-Old Dies After Medical Emergency On Flight To Chicago

PEORIA, IL — An 8-year-old girl has died after a medical emergency prompted a Chicago-bound flight to conduct an emergency landing in Peoria.

The child was aboard a 6 a.m. flight from Joplin, Mo., headed to Chicago's O'Hare airport, WGN reported. According to USA Today, the girl and her family were on a SkyWest Airlines flight to Chicago.

In a statement, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said the girl, identified as Sydney Weston of Carl Junction, Mo, became ill and then unresponsive on the flight. Her family immediately notified airline staff, Harwood said, "and they began rapidly rendering aid."

After an emergency landing at Peoria International Airport, Harwood said Sydney was not breathing and had no pulse. Peoria County Sheriff's deputies, emergency responders and members of the Air National Guard began life-saving measures.

Sydney was taken to OSF Healthcare Saint Francis Medical Center, the coroner said, "where, despite aggressive resuscitative efforts," she was pronounced dead just after 8 a.m.

An autopsy was scheduled for Friday to determine what led to her death, Harwood said.

"Please keep the child's family and everyone who was involved in this traumatic experience in your thoughts and prayers," Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins said in a statement Thursday.