The Hawaii Police Department is investigating the Wednesday evening death of a passenger on a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Hilo.
It wasn’t clear Thursday morning how the man died, or how he was discovered.
A spokeswoman for United would only confirm “a medical emergency” on flight 1004, which landed at Hilo International Airport at 7:27 p.m.
“Out of respect for our passengers’ privacy, I cannot provide any additional details,” United media relations spokeswoman Jennifer Dohm wrote Thursday morning in an emailed response to questions.
No positive identification, age or place of residence has yet been confirmed by the police, according to a spokeswoman. However, a Department of Transportation spokesman described the passenger as “a man in his 40s.”
The police are currently listing the man as a “John Doe.”
The police spokeswoman added that the death was reported at 6:37 p.m., and the passenger was officially pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center about two hours later. An autopsy has been ordered.
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.