A BRITISH tourist has died sitting next to his wife when flying from the Falkland Islands.

The man, 59, was on a LATAM fllight heading to the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas when the tragedy happened.

The Brit died before the aircraft landed as the couple were meant to take a second flight to capital Santiago de Chile.

Cops from the homicide unit met the plane when it arrived at Carlos Ibanez del Campo Airport.

Deputy Commissioner, Diego Díaz, told local press on Saturday: “Detectives from the Punta Arenas Homicide Brigade went to Carlos Ibanez del Campo Airport after a British tourist aged 59 died inside a plane while it was travelling from the Falkland Islands to Punta Arenas before his connecting flight to Santiago.”

He confirmed officers had discovered nothing to suggest his death had been the result of a crime.

Mr Díaz added: “The man’s wife was interviewed and said he had several underlying health issues.”

A post-mortem due to take place today or tomorrow is expected to confirm he died of natural causes.

The whereabouts of the unnamed man’s wife today was not immediately clear.