Legal Battle Ensues as American Airlines Faces Lawsuit Over Teen's Death

A tragic event has led to a lawsuit against American Airlines following the death of a 14-year-old boy due to a cardiac arrest on a flight from Honduras to Miami in 2022. The boy's mother, Melissa Arzu, is suing the airline, claiming that the lack of a functional defibrillator and insufficient crew training contributed to her son's untimely death.

Incident Details and Allegations

On June 4th, 2022, Kevin Greenidge suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after takeoff from La Mesa International Airport, Honduras. Despite an emergency landing in Cancun and immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Texas, asserts that the death was a direct result of negligence by American Airlines. It highlights several failures, including the cabin crew's delayed response and their inability to operate the automatic external defibrillator (AED), which was also reportedly uncharged.

Eyewitness Accounts and Legal Actions

Eyewitnesses described the crew's panic and confusion during the incident. Notably, a doctor and another medically trained passenger attempted to assist, but found the defibrillator without enough power to be useful. This mishap has raised serious questions about the airline's adherence to safety protocols, particularly the mandatory requirement since 2004 for U.S. airlines to carry and maintain operational defibrillators.

American Airlines' History and Policies

This is not the airline's first involvement with defibrillators; American Airlines was the first to equip its fleet with these devices in 1997 and successfully used one in 1998. However, this incident has exposed potential gaps in training and equipment maintenance that could undermine the airline's safety measures.

In Conclusion

The lawsuit underscores the critical importance of proper safety equipment and training in the airline industry, especially when it comes to handling medical emergencies. As the case progresses, it could prompt a reevaluation of industry standards and practices.