A few years ago, 3 others and myself were on a flight returning to Maryland from Colorado, where we had just finished our Ice Rescue Instructor training. An announcement was made requesting a doctor or nurse, as one of the passengers was experiencing chest pain. We alerted the Flight Attendant of our presence (2 Paramedics and 2 EMTs) and would be glad to assist. She told us that the airline policy was to ask for medical assistance from a doctor first, followed by a nurse, regardless of their specialty. We were perhaps 40 minutes from landing at BWI, but the doctor requested an emergency landing at the nearest airport, which was back along the flight path. It took 10 minutes to redirect the flight; 20 minutes return time and another 15 minutes to land (45 minutes total). The passenger appeared alert and orientated, with no visible signs of distress. We mentioned to the Flight Attendant, that we would have had the plane continue to BWI. She smiled and said the Doctor was a Pediatrician, did not feel comfortable treating the patient in the air and wanted to get her to the hospital ASAP.

Pete