American Airlines flight attendant dies while awaiting results of coronavirus test as his colleagues tell how they fear for their lives over lack of social distancing on flights

A longtime American Airlines flight attendant has died while awaiting the results of a coronavirus test.

Paul Frishkorn, a longtime union representative in his 60s, died in Philadelphia this week, the airline confirmed Wednesday.

The news came as flight attendants have told how they fear for their lives because of the lack of social distancing on board plane.

They likened the close contact conditions to being 'on the frontline', with one saying they are 'very much on edge'.

Lngtime American Airlines flight attendant Paul Frishkorn died while awaiting the results of a coronavirus test

Friskhorn had taken a test for coronavirus after becoming sick, but was still waiting for the results when he died.

He left a voicemail greeting on his phone in his final days saying he was 'very ill', CNN reported.

His exact cause of death has not yet been released by Pennsylvania authorities.

'Our hearts go out to Paul's family and friends, many of whom work for American,' American Airlines said in a statement.

'We are working directly with Paul's family to ensure they are cared for during this extraordinarily difficult time.'

The exemplar worker had twice been named one of the company's Flight Service Champions for excellent customer service. 

Lori Bassani, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, said in a statement that Frishkorn was 'recently spending time in the Philadelphia crew room, answering questions and assisting our members through this difficult time.'

Bassani said the fatality highlighted the risks flight attendants are being placed in as they continue to work, being classed as essential workers amid state shutdowns

'Paul's death sheds a solemn light on our profession as front line workers,' Bassani said. 

'It underlines the risk to our members who continue to work as 'essential workers' in the airlines.'

His death has sparked fears for the 119,000 Americans who work as flight attendants across the country, with several colleagues speaking of their concerns that they are putting their lives at risk taking to the air.

One longtime flight attendant with a heart condition in North Carolina said he fell ill after taking multiple flights in recent weeks.

James Rhoades, 55, told CNN Wednesday he developed a dry cough last week, which developed into more symptoms of coronavirus including a fever, headaches and shortness of breath.

Rhoades said flights had been emptier but that some domestic planes heading to holiday destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the Bahamas were still full of passengers.

For flight attendants, this means constant exposure to potential coronavirus cases.

Social distancing is also impossible, Rhoades said, because flight attendants sit close together on jump seats and also have close contact and share facilities with passengers.

'The main purpose of my job is to save people's lives,' he said. 'And today I'm fighting for mine.'

The attendant said he was still waiting for results of a coronavirus test Wednesday.

Another attendant for American Airlines said she was 'on edge' because of the working conditions in airplane cabins.

'Flight attendants are very much on edge right now,' Tracy Sear told CNN. 

American Airlines said in a statement to CNN that it had taken 'enhanced steps' to keep workers safe, including two weeks extra paid sick leave if an employee is diagnosed with the virus or put under quarantine.

However the flight attendant union last week slammed the airline for offering its pilots paid leave during the crisis but not them. 

The company has been offering staff take a voluntary leave of absence in order to cut its losses as it is battered by falling sales and travel bans. 

Pilots have been given three options including unpaid leave of absence of up to 12 months; permanent leave of absence, and paid short-term leave of absence of up to six months where they will get paid for 55 hours a month.

Flight attendants meanwhile have two options - both fully unpaid. 

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents all 26,000 flight attendants at American, sent a letter to the the firm expressing that its staff were 'highly offended' by decisions around pay at this challenging time. 

Pilot salaries typically dwarf that of flight attendants, with the average base pay of a pilot in the US standing at $80,290 a year, according to jobsite Indeed.

Flight attendants earn on average less than half, at $35,012. 

Under the conditions some flight attendants will have no option but to keep going to work on airplanes.  

American Airlines last week took out a $1billion loan and slashed 55,000 flights for April as the company president warned staff 'we are in the fight of our lives' amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

The airline has taken out the loan 'to strengthen our balance sheet' as it expects 'demand to fall even more before it gets better,' President Robert Isom said in an email sent to staff last Thursday. 

Isom warned staff there would be tough times ahead as the airline industry continues to be hammered by falling bookings. 

This came after the airline had announced plans to ground nearly half of its fleet and said that it would be slashing 55,000 flights scheduled for April.

The flight cuts include a 75% drop in international flights and 30% drop in domestic flights in April, with further cuts in the pipeline for May.