A New York City mother is suing American Airlines and demanding answers after her 14-year-old son died during a medical emergency on a plane.
Bronx resident Melissa Als claims the defibrillator used by crews to save the boy was defective, and a new lawsuit says the defibrillator is now missing. It is said that there is
Ars said she has felt hopeless since Kevin Greenidge, who was returning from a vacation with his family, suffered a fatal medical emergency on American Airlines Flight 614 from Honduras to Miami in 2022. Ta.
Als’ lawsuit, filed in Texas earlier this month, alleges that flight attendants were slow to respond and lacked proper training when Kevin lost consciousness during the flight.
Hannah Crowe, the grieving mother’s attorney, told the Post that multiple witnesses also confirmed that the AED machine used to revive Kevin did not appear to work.
“After Kevin passed away, the equipment went missing,” Crowe said. “Did someone at American Airlines destroy it on purpose? Was it a defective product? Will we put it back into service?
“These are all serious violations of federal laws designed to protect passengers,” she added.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, defibrillators have been required on all passenger planes since 2004 and are considered “no-take” equipment, meaning that defibrillators cannot be lost or become inoperable. If this happens, it means that the aircraft cannot be dispatched.
Kevin had asthma and type 2 diabetes. His primary cause of death is listed as “myocardial infarction,” also known as a heart attack.
The lawsuit also alleges that American Airlines failed to provide a $113,100 advance payment for Kevin’s death, as per company policy, after a passenger died on the flight.
American Airlines declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said “our thoughts are with Mr. Greenidge’s loved ones.”
American Airlines crew members were unable to revive Kevin, so the plane was diverted to Cancun, Mexico, where Kevin died at the hospital.
“I have not heard from American Airlines since Kevin passed away,” Als said in a statement. “It made me feel hopeless. I want an answer from American Airlines.
“I want American Airlines to take full responsibility for Kevin’s death,” she added. “I never want something like this to happen to a child or family again.”
Mr. Crow said Mr. Als’ first lawsuit in New York was dismissed because American Airlines fought for a trial in the airline’s home base of Fort Worth, Texas.
“American Airlines compounded her injury by fighting to file a lawsuit in Texas and then flying her out of here,” Crowe said. “The trauma she has already undergone makes things even more difficult.”
