Narrative:

Flight attendant reported a sick passenger who appeared to be experiencing seizures of some kind. He was unresponsive and was put on a portable oxygen bottle. A medical intern was located and was helping with the assessment of the passenger. We elected to declare a medical emergency and diverted to msy, landing approximately 16 mins after initiating the diversion. ATC waived all speed restrs, and we maintained 330 KTS until approximately 15 mi from the field. We executed a visual approach and landed normally on runway 19, cleared and expedited to gate X, where upon arrival, the local emt's immediately boarded the aircraft. The passenger was deplaned and still appeared extremely ill.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 CAPT EXERCISES DISCRETIONARY EMER DECLARATION DUE TO PAX ILLNESS WHEN EXCEEDING 250 KTS BELOW 10000 FT WHEN DIVERTING MSY.

Narrative: FLT ATTENDANT RPTED A SICK PAX WHO APPEARED TO BE EXPERIENCING SEIZURES OF SOME KIND. HE WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND WAS PUT ON A PORTABLE OXYGEN BOTTLE. A MEDICAL INTERN WAS LOCATED AND WAS HELPING WITH THE ASSESSMENT OF THE PAX. WE ELECTED TO DECLARE A MEDICAL EMER AND DIVERTED TO MSY, LNDG APPROX 16 MINS AFTER INITIATING THE DIVERSION. ATC WAIVED ALL SPD RESTRS, AND WE MAINTAINED 330 KTS UNTIL APPROX 15 MI FROM THE FIELD. WE EXECUTED A VISUAL APCH AND LANDED NORMALLY ON RWY 19, CLRED AND EXPEDITED TO GATE X, WHERE UPON ARR, THE LCL EMT'S IMMEDIATELY BOARDED THE ACFT. THE PAX WAS DEPLANED AND STILL APPEARED EXTREMELY ILL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.