Air India pilot found dead in Saudi Arabia hotel, heart attack suspected

Air India pilot Rithwick Tiwari (27) was found dead at a Riyadh hotel in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning. He reportedly had a heart attack while working out in the hotel gym.

A 27-year-old Air India pilot was found dead at a Riyadh hotel in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning, officials said.

Indian embassy officials in Saudi Arabia are in touch with the deceased pilot’s family but there are a lot of formalities that need to be completed before the mortal remains could be sent back to India. (Getty/Photo for representation)

Rithwick Tiwari, a first officer with the state-run airline, died reportedly of a heart attack while working out in the hotel gym, according to crew sources.

Tiwari’s colleague Captain Renu Maulay identified the body after police broke open the door of a small toilet room inside the health club of Hotel Holiday Inn where it was found lying sideways, they said.

Indian embassy officials in Riyadh have confirmed the pilot’s death.

“He had collapsed in the wash room of the hotel gym on Wednesday morning. He was then taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead,” counsellor (community welfare) Anil Nautiyal told PTI over the phone.

He said the embassy is yet to study the detailed hospital report but it appeared to be a case of heart attack.

Nautiyal said embassy officials are in touch with the pilot’s family.

“We are in touch with the family but there are a lot of formalities that need to be completed before the mortal remains could be sent back to India,” he said.