A Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant died on a New York-bound flight

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines.

• Emile Griffith, a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant, died Thursday night onboard, according to reports.
• Flight 50 was bound for New York City, but it made an emergency landing in San Francisco.
• The flight attendant died of a "medical emergency."

A Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant died Thursday night on a flight bound for New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to a Hawaiian Airlines statement. 

Emile Griffith, the flight attendant, worked with Hawaiian Airlines for 31 years. Ann Botticelli, senior vice president of corporate communications at Hawaiian Airlines, said in the statement that the airline is "deeply saddened" by Griffith's passing. 

"Emile both loved and treasured his job at Hawaiian and always shared that with our guests. Our hearts are with Emile's family, friends and all those fortunate to have known him," Botticelli wrote in the statement sent to Business Insider. 

Hawaiian Airlines Flight 50 left Honolulu around 4:15 pm local time on Thursday, according to the airline. The plane landed just under five hours later at 11:05 pm local time.

Hawaii News Now reported that the flight attendant suffered a "medical emergency." The outlet also reported that a doctor and paramedic on the flight assisted. 

"We are forever grateful for Emile's colleagues and good Samaritans on board who stayed by his side and provided extensive medical help," Botticelli wrote in the statement.

One passenger on Flight 50 also told Hawaii News Now that Hawaiian Airlines did not inform passengers of the death until after they made the emergency landing in San Francisco. After that, passengers waited for nearly two hours for the coroner to arrive. 

There were 253 passengers and 12 crewmembers on board.

One passenger on Flight 50 said on Twitter that Hawaiian Airlines paid for passengers to stay in a hotel as they arrange a new flight for the passengers on board. All passengers have been re-accomodated on the first available flights and will receive compensation, Botticelli said.