Given her age, recent travel, and progression of symptoms, it seems very likely it was an acute pulmonary embolism.
If you suspect this is happening to you (all of the sudden you can't really breathe), is there anything you can even do? Or just hope it's not bad enough to be fatal?
Also an ounce of prevention: avoid extended sitting; exercise regularly.
https://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/pulmonary-embolism-treatment-o...
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/deep-vein-thr...