Rain McMillan Walmsey, 22, died after becoming unresponsive during a Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas to Los Angeles on Aug. 7. Flight 958 landed at Los Angeles International Airport, where paramedics continued efforts to save him. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has deferred the cause of death while the investigation continues. Officials have not disclosed the type of medical emergency or listed a manner of death.
| Article Subheadings | |
|---|---|
| 1) | Passenger becomes unresponsive during Dallas to Los Angeles flight |
| 2) | Emergency response continues aboard the aircraft and at LAX |
| 3) | Medical examiner defers cause and manner of death |
| 4) | Airline confirms a medical incident involving a customer |
| 5) | Death follows other serious in-flight medical emergencies |
Passenger becomes unresponsive during Dallas to Los Angeles flight
Walmsey was traveling aboard Southwest Flight 958 from Dallas to Los Angeles on Aug. 7 when he experienced a medical emergency and became unresponsive. The circumstances leading to the emergency have not been made public. Law enforcement sources said the incident occurred while the aircraft was en route to Los Angeles, but officials have not identified the medical condition involved.
Emergency response continues aboard the aircraft and at LAX
People aboard the aircraft attempted to help Walmsey after he became unresponsive. CPR was administered during the flight, according to law enforcement information reported after the incident. When the plane arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, paramedics responded and continued resuscitation efforts. Walmsey could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Medical examiner defers cause and manner of death
Newly released records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identify Walmsey as a 22-year-old man and list his place of death as the Southwest plane at LAX. The records list his cause of death as deferred. That designation means the medical examiner has not reached a final determination and is awaiting additional investigation. No manner of death has been listed, and the available records do not state whether the death was accidental, natural or otherwise.
Airline confirms a medical incident involving a customer
Southwest Airlines confirmed that a medical incident involving a customer occurred aboard Flight 958 from Dallas to Los Angeles on Friday. The airline did not provide further details about Walmsey’s condition, the response on board or the circumstances of his death. It referred additional questions to local authorities, who are responsible for the ongoing investigation and the medical examiner’s determination.
“Medical incident involving a customer.”
Death follows other serious in-flight medical emergencies
The death is among several recent cases in which passengers experienced severe medical emergencies during commercial flights. In January 2025, 53-year-old Barbara Dipoli died aboard an Air France flight from Paris to Boston after authorities said preliminary information pointed to a medical episode. In June 2024, 8-year-old Sydney Weston became ill and unresponsive aboard a SkyWest flight before it diverted to Peoria, Illinois. That same month, a 41-year-old American passenger died after a severe medical emergency aboard a Fiji Airways flight bound for San Francisco. These cases involved different airlines and circumstances, and no connection between them and Walmsey’s death has been established.
| Key Points | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rain McMillan Walmsey, 22, died after becoming unresponsive on Southwest Flight 958. |
| 2 | The flight traveled from Dallas to Los Angeles on Aug. 7. |
| 3 | CPR was performed aboard the aircraft, followed by paramedic efforts at LAX. |
| 4 | The medical examiner has deferred the cause of death and listed no manner of death. |
Summary
The investigation into Walmsey’s death remains open. Authorities have confirmed the emergency response and the death at LAX, but the underlying medical cause has not been determined. Further findings from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner are needed before the circumstances can be fully established.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who died aboard the Southwest flight?
The passenger was identified as Rain McMillan Walmsey, a 22-year-old man.
What happened during the flight?
Walmsey experienced a medical emergency and became unresponsive while Flight 958 traveled from Dallas to Los Angeles. CPR was administered aboard the aircraft.
What is known about the cause of death?
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has deferred the cause of death pending additional investigation. No manner of death has been listed.
