Commercial Fixed Wing
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General None Reported / Taken
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors; Aircraft
Aircraft coasted off the gulf coast west of LEV when CALL ME ACARS came over Dispatch ACARS crew to try frequency. When calling on that frequency another flight was involved on a medical call as well. Asked flight to try another Frequency; could not be raised on new frequency so NY ARINC asked for SELCAL to start another patch. While on that SFO ARINC called aircraft on the line. Tried to bring MEDLINK on. Another call and ARINC back on with Aircraft; no medlink. Aircraft could not hear me; so tried to relay through ARINC but I was a whisper to them as well. They called me again on another line. Neighbor picked up that one and by this point Medical assistance on board requested landing ASAP. Aircraft headed towards PNS. Relayed via ACARS and ARINC to copy PNS Divert. Hung up all lines and sent landing data and medical info to them via ACARS. This was a baby that was choking and turning blue. In the patch prior to trying to get medlink on; I was trying to just get them to turn around and go to MSY. MOB would have been closer as well. In retrospect; the hospital in PNS was the closest of all 3 but they also could have been on the ground faster. If a patch could have been established the MEDLINK Dr. could have helped the ER nurse assisting the Flight Attendant's. This was a very frustrating experience where I just felt helpless in my job that I could not communicate with my crew and get them all the info they needed.
Dispatcher reported communication problems during an airborne medical divert.