A U.S. lawyer died mid-flight to London after quietly falling asleep on her mother’s shoulder — and an inquest has now revealed she had an undiagnosed heart condition.
Rachel Green, a 44-year-old attorney from Minnesota, was traveling aboard a Delta Airlines flight from Minneapolis to London when tragedy struck. Green had settled in beside her mother during the seven-and-a-half-hour journey and drifted off to sleep, but cabin crew later discovered she was unresponsive in her seat.
Despite emergency efforts on board, Green could not be revived.
An inquest held at West London Coroner’s Court revealed that Green had a previously undiagnosed congenital cardiac condition. The court heard that the condition, combined with multiple prescription medications in her system, likely contributed to her sudden death.
Pathologist Dr. Alan Bates testified that Green’s heart appeared largely normal, aside from a condition known as myocardial tunnelling — where part of a coronary artery runs beneath the heart muscle rather than on its surface. While often undetected, the anomaly can sometimes be associated with fatal arrhythmias.
The inquest also heard that Green had several substances in her bloodstream, including antidepressants, melatonin, cannabinoids, and a small amount of alcohol. Officials emphasized there was no evidence of recreational drug use or medication misuse.
Green had been traveling to the UK to research a historical novel she was writing about Eleanor of Aquitaine. Her sister, Roxanne Carney, described the trip as something Green had eagerly anticipated after years of health struggles.
“On April 30, 2025, we lost an angel on earth,” Carney said in a statement. “Rachel passed away peacefully in her sleep as she was flying to London for a much-anticipated trip.”
Carney said her sister had spent recent years recovering from a serious illness that left her relearning how to walk and forced her to move back home to Minnesota to recuperate.
“She exuded unyielding strength and courage at even the most difficult times,” she said. “Rachel was absolutely selfless. She gave to everyone and found joy in helping others.”
During the inquest, Carney — who works in the psychiatric field — questioned how her sister had been prescribed multiple medications despite previously having an abnormal heart test that was never fully investigated.
“I wonder why she was never referred to a cardiologist,” she told the court. “Why was she on this regimen?”
Senior Coroner Lydia Brown recorded a verdict of misadventure, stating that Green’s death appeared to have been instantaneous and that there was no opportunity for effective resuscitation.
“She simply died whilst on a flight,” Brown said. “She was coming to our country to do research and stay with her mother. Instead, she never even got off the plane.”
Passengers on board the flight recalled the unsettling moment when an announcement came over the intercom asking if any medical professionals were onboard.
Green was remembered as a devoted sister, a passionate historian, and “the best aunt in the world” to her nephew, Jack. She had recently rediscovered her love of theatre and was actively involved with the Lakeshore Players Theatre in Minnesota.
Her sister has since announced plans to complete Green’s unfinished novel and has launched a fundraiser in her honor, benefiting both the theatre group and her memorial at Golders Green Crematorium in London.
“She fell asleep peacefully on her mother’s shoulder,” Carney said. “And, for reasons we may never fully understand, never woke up.”
