A mother is suing American Airlines after her 14-year-old son died from a heart attack on one of the planes in 2022.
The federal lawsuit alleges that the plane’s onboard defibrillator did not function correctly and that the flight crew was not properly trained to use the medical equipment.
Melissa Arzu and her son were flying from Honduras to Miami after a family summer vacation.
However, her son suddenly experienced a medical emergency during the flight, The Blaze reported.
Kevin Greenidge, 14, lost consciousness shortly after takeoff.
The lawsuit alleged that the flight crew was “delayed in responding” to Greenidge’s medical episode, which the mother says could have saved his life.
The lawsuit claims that crewmembers “eventually attempted to use” the plane’s automated external defibrillator but were “either unable to properly operate the machine or the machine did not function properly.”
According to the suit, the crew was not properly trained to use the type of AED on the flight.
The fight eventually made an emergency landing in Cancun, Mexico, where Reenidge was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Kevin had been diagnosed with asthma and type 2 diabetes before his death, and his primary cause of death was listed as “myocardial infarction,” otherwise known as a heart attack.
The suit claims that Greenidge’s chances of survival would have “vastly” increased if the flight had a functioning AED that the crew knew how to use.
“After Kevin died, I never heard from American Airlines,” Arzu said.
“It made me feel hopeless. I want answers from American Airlines. I want American Airlines to take full responsibility for Kevin’s death.”
“I never want this to happen to a child or family again.”
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American Airlines told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
“Our thoughts are with Mr. Greenridge’s loved ones. We are going to decline further comment given this matter involves pending litigation.”
Hannah Crowe, the attorney representing Arzu, said:
“The loss of a child is truly unimaginable, and the facts of this case are horrendous. Multiple eyewitnesses confirm that American Airlines flight personnel were slow to respond and not able to operate the AED machine, which appeared not to work.”
Crowe alleged, “After Kevin died, the equipment went missing. Did someone at American intentionally destroy it? Is it defective, but back out in service? These are all really serious violations of the federal laws that are in place to protect passengers.”
The lawsuit also claims that American Airlines failed to submit an advance payment of $113,100 for the sudden death of the teen, as per the company’s policy regarding the death of a passenger while on board.
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