Is there a doctor on the plane? You'll do, congressman

• California lawmaker provided medical aid on a flight
• He was an emergency room doctor before Congress
• Passenger was awake and talking by the time plane landed

WASHINGTON — Raul Ruiz the congressman reverted briefly to being Raul Ruiz the emergency room doctor while flying home from the nation's capital.

The Palm Desert Democrat said he provided medical assistance to a fellow passenger when flying from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport early Thursday.

About a half-hour after American Airlines Flight 175 took off, a man in his 60s fainted while sitting in his seat, Ruiz said. The man had cold sweats. His pulse was faint.

Ruiz was the only doctor to respond and, along with a fireman and the flight attendants, stabilized the patient until he could get to a hospital. The flight was diverted to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, where the man was handed over to paramedics, Ruiz said.

If the flight hadn't made an emergency landing, "the possibilities could've been catastrophic for him," Ruiz said.

The man's wife disclosed that the patient is diabetic, but testing on the spot revealed his blood sugar levels were normal, according to Ruiz. The congressman said he isn't sure why the man lost consciousness twice — for a few minutes each time — adding it could be due to a host of reasons such as a stroke or other cardiac problems.

By the time the plane reached Raleigh-Durham, Ruiz said the man was awake and talking.

American Airlines spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan confirmed in an e-mail that Flight No. 175 made an "unscheduled landing" at Raleigh-Durham International Airport "because a passenger was having a medical issue." After the passenger was removed from the plane, the flight, which carried 125 passengers and a crew of five, remained in Raleigh for 47 minutes before taking off for Dallas/Fort Worth, Fagan said.

Ruiz was interviewed while he and his chief of staff, Kyle Layman, were waiting at Dallas/Fort Worth for a new connecting flight to Palm Springs International Airport. They missed their original connection because of the diversion to North Carolina, delaying their arrival in Southern California by about six hours.

Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Texas, who was also on Flight 175, said he was impressed with Ruiz's skill.

"Hope @CongressmanRuiz is on all my flights home," he tweeted. "An emergency room dr by training, was impressive to see him in action. He saves lives!"

Ruiz was headed home after the House finished its work for the week on Wednesday.