AN aeroplane passenger died after suffering a cardiac arrest shortly before take-off.

The male passenger, who has not yet been named, was taken ill onboard a Ryanair flight minutes before it was due to take-off.

He was on a plane at around 7am on Wednesday and about to travel to Diagoras airport in Rhodes when he became ill.

Staff assisted him off the plane and called an ambulance.

When this arrived, ambulance staff gave him CPR at the airport before taking him to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

However, Ryanair has confirmed the man did not recover from the heart attack.

The death has now been referred to Bournemouth coroner’s officer, who confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.

A post-mortem has not yet taken place and the person’s identity has not yet been released.

Robin Kiely, of Ryanair, said in a statement: “A Ryanair flight from Bournemouth to Rhodes was delayed ahead of take-off after a passenger became ill onboard.

“The passenger disembarked the aircraft and received medical assistance from ambulance personnel at Bournemouth but sadly passed away.

“Ryanair extends its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.”

A spokesperson for South West Ambulance confirmed they were called to the airport at 7.09am and performed CPR at the scene before transferring the passenger to hospital.