Chennai: A special aircraft, equipped with all basic medical facilities, flew into Chennai on November 13 afternoon from Chicago in the US, to take Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran, to Houston, for specialised treatment of his heart, kidney and other ailments.

The high-speed 'flying ambulance', with three crew members, three doctors and a nurse, belonging to Aero Care of West Chicago, Illinois, touched down at the Meenambakkam airport around 2.00 pm (IST), to fly the minister and his close family members. The aircraft flew in via Jeddah.

Maran and his family members would fly in the aircraft to Houston's Methodist Hospital and Research Institute, via Singapore (for refuelling) either late this evening or early on November 14 morning.

The Union Minister was admitted to the corporate Apollo hospital on September 23, following high fever. Two days later, he underwent a 'high risk' surgery for replacement of his 'infected' mitral valve.

Subsequently, he developed various complications and renal failure. Despite administration of a new drug, there was neither any improvement nor deterioration in his condition for the past 15 days.

PTI