8-year-old dies on flight

Sydney Weston, an eight-year-old girl from Carl Junction, Missouri, died from complications related to chronic primary adrenalitis exacerbated by multiple infections, including strep and enterovirus, during a SkyWest flight on June 13. She became unresponsive shortly after takeoff from Joplin, prompting an emergency landing in Peoria, Illinois, where she was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The Peoria County coroner indicated that Sydney also suffered from duodenitis and thyroiditis, suggesting an underlying autoimmune disorder. The autopsy revealed that infections can precipitate an acute adrenal insufficiency crisis in the context of chronic adrenal disease. Sydney's family was traveling for a vacation, and they expressed their sorrow in an obituary, describing her as a vibrant child who loved the water. The coroner's office extended thoughts and prayers to her family during this difficult time.