Date: 201910
Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Workload
Anomaly: Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Diverted; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Human Factors
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: Enroute to ZZZ in cruise; I happened to be monitoring the PA (incidentally) on my headset. I heard the Flight Attendant make a PA for medical personnel to ring their call button. A few moments later; we got a call from the Flight Attendants. The Captain answered. The Flight Attendant told him that a passenger was unconscious in the back. We began to prepare for a possible medical diversion. I pulled up the QRG Medical Guide and Diversion Planning Guide and we starting reviewing. The Flight Attendant called back a short time later and said that medical personnel on board believed the passenger was having a stroke and recommended landing. We immediately sent a message via ACARS and started discussing diversion option while trying to reach Dispatch and Medical. The Captain began pulling weather; etc. After not getting a response from Dispatch; we sent another message via ACARS and continued discussing options. I'm not sure how much time went by; but it was too long. We sent one more 'call me' via ACARS and I queried ATC to get an ARINC frequency. She was able to provide one. I called ARINC and requested our dispatch and desk number. At this point; the situation in the back with the passenger had not improved. We got Dispatch on the radio and tried to discuss what was happening and requested Medical; but we were having extreme difficulty understanding and communicating with dispatch. Given the medical situation and our inability to adequately communicate with dispatch; the Captain suggested that we go ahead and divert to ZZZ. I fully agreed with his suggestion and he implemented the command decision. We diverted and landed. We had to work around some weather and set up for the approach. Also; [we requested priority handling]. We fully prepared; briefed; ran checklists as well as referred to the diversion guide for guidance. All items were completed and we kept our speed up below 10;000 ft. as we felt the [situation] warranted expediting to the field; we informed ATC of our speed.The major concern in this incident was our inability to effectively communicate with Dispatch. We never received an answer to our 3 'call me' ACARS messages; and when we got them on the radio; we couldn't understand due to poor radio coverage. In the debrief; we discussed it and both expressed that we felt like we were somewhat on our own making the decisions. Given our resources and time constraints; we chose ZZZ as we felt it was a close 'sure bet' for providing care; as well as suitable to land; on the list of serviced airports; etc. It would have been helpful to converse with Dispatch on these decisions; and also; to speak with Medical prior to diverting; but it wasn't feasible given the Comms. Given the challenges; the Captain did an absolute superb job commanding the situation. I would say that our crew effectiveness and CRM was excellent and we worked the problem together successfully.




Synopsis: B737 pilot reported an inflight passenger medical emergency that resulted in an immediate diversion.