Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde came to the aid of a woman in urgent need of a kidney transplant by flying her and her husband from Jalgaon to Mumbai in his chartered plane after the couple missed their scheduled commercial flight on Friday night, reported news agency PTI.

The incident took place at Jalgaon airport, where Shinde’s flight was slightly delayed after one of the pilots fell ill. According to an official statement issued by the Deputy CM’s office on Saturday, the delay proved crucial in saving the woman’s chances of reaching Mumbai in time for her transplant surgery.

“Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was on a visit to Muktainagar in Jalgaon district on Friday to attend the Sant Muktabai Palkhi departure ceremony. While returning to Mumbai, his flight experienced a brief delay at Jalgaon airport. That delay turned out to be life-saving for a woman in urgent need of a kidney transplant,” the statement said.