Rain McMillan Walmsley became unresponsive during the Dallas-to-Los Angeles flight despite efforts to revive him, authorities and the airline said.
LOS ANGELES — A 22-year-old man died after suffering a medical emergency aboard a Southwest Airlines flight traveling from Dallas to Los Angeles, authorities said, with the Los Angeles County medical examiner still investigating what caused his death.
The man was identified by the medical examiner’s office as Rain McMillan Walmsley. He was a passenger aboard Southwest Flight 958 on Friday morning when he went into medical distress and became unresponsive while the aircraft was headed to Los Angeles International Airport, according to law enforcement sources cited by NBC Los Angeles.
People aboard the flight administered CPR in an attempt to revive Walmsley before the aircraft reached Los Angeles. Paramedics met the plane after it landed at LAX, but emergency crews were unable to revive him. Firefighters pronounced him dead at the scene, according to the report.
Officials had not publicly disclosed what type of medical emergency Walmsley experienced before becoming unresponsive. The Los Angeles County medical examiner listed the cause of death as pending or deferred while the case remained under investigation. No further medical findings had been released as of Monday.
Southwest Airlines confirmed that a medical incident involving a customer occurred aboard Flight 958. The airline did not release additional details about the passenger’s condition, what happened during the flight or whether medical professionals were among those who attempted to help him.
The flight had departed from Dallas and was traveling to Los Angeles when the emergency occurred. Available reports did not indicate that the aircraft diverted to another airport, and emergency personnel responded after it arrived at its scheduled destination at LAX.
Authorities have not released additional details about Walmsley’s background, where he lived or whether he was traveling alone. The circumstances preceding the medical emergency also remain unclear, and officials have not publicly said whether he had any known medical condition.
The medical examiner’s investigation is expected to determine the cause and manner of death after further examination. Until those findings are completed, authorities have not attributed Walmsley’s death to any specific illness, injury or other medical condition.
No criminal investigation or safety issue involving the aircraft has been announced in connection with the death. Southwest has described the event as a customer medical incident, while officials continue to await the medical examiner’s findings.
Author note: Last updated August 10, 2026.