22-year-old passenger dies after sudden medical emergency strikes aboard Southwest flight to LA

A 22-year-old passenger who died after a medical emergency aboard a Southwest Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles has been identified as officials investigate what may have led to his sudden death.

Rain McMillan Walmsey died Aug. 7 after becoming unresponsive aboard Southwest Flight 958 from Dallas to Los Angeles, prompting desperate attempts to save him before the plane landed at Los Angeles International Airport.

Newly released records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reveal the investigation into Walmsey’s death remains open, and exactly what led to the young passenger’s death remains unclear.

The medical examiner identified Walmsey as a 22-year-old man and listed his place of death as “LAX Southwest plane.”

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His cause of death was listed as “deferred,” which the medical examiner’s office says means the determination is pending additional investigation. No manner of death has been listed.

Walmsey became unresponsive after experiencing a medical emergency while Flight 958 was en route to Los Angeles, law enforcement sources told NBC Los Angeles. CPR was administered to Walmsey aboard the aircraft, and paramedics responded when the flight arrived at LAX, according to the outlet. He could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.

It remains unclear what type of medical emergency Walmsey experienced.

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Southwest Airlines confirmed to Fox News Digital that a “medical incident involving a customer” occurred aboard Flight 958 from Dallas to Los Angeles on Friday but did not provide additional details, instead referring further questions to local authorities.

The incident follows other recent cases involving passengers who suffered fatal medical emergencies aboard commercial flights.

In January 2025, 53-year-old Barbara Dipoli of Kansas died aboard an Air France flight from Paris to Boston, with authorities saying preliminary information pointed to a medical episode during the flight.

In June 2024, 8-year-old Sydney Weston became ill and unresponsive aboard a SkyWest flight before the plane diverted to Peoria, Illinois.

That same month, a 41-year-old American passenger died after suffering a severe medical emergency aboard a Fiji Airways flight bound for San Francisco.