A federal judge has ruled that a California chef, who experienced two severe strokes during international flights, was left in need of ongoing care and rehabilitation due to American Airlines not adhering to its own protocols.
According to a lawsuit filed in 2023, Jesus Placencia was on vacation with his wife, Ana Maria Marcela Tavantzis, in November 2021. The couple described how he suddenly lost the ability to speak or even handle everyday items, like his cell phone. Despite his wife’s notifications to the flight attendant and pilot, they reportedly downplayed her concerns and joked with Placencia instead.
The airline’s procedures require that medical personnel be notified in such situations, but the lawsuit states this did not happen.
After takeoff, Placencia suffered a second, more serious stroke. He was taken to a hospital in Spain for three weeks of treatment before returning home to the U.S., as detailed in the complaint.
Following the second incident, the flight crew did instruct passengers to check on those who were ill, yet failed to alert the pilot.
Currently, Placencia is still struggling with speech and writing difficulties, relying on around-the-clock care and extensive rehabilitation.
The couple believes that if the crew had followed the proper protocols, his recovery might have been significantly better.
After a lengthy court process that lasted nearly four years, a federal judge in San Jose ruled that American Airlines must pay $9.6 million, holding the airline accountable for its employees’ negligence during this unfortunate episode.
The airline was found liable under the Montreal Convention, which governs international air travel.
However, American Airlines has expressed its disagreement with the ruling.
“The safety and happiness of our passengers are our number one priority. We respect the decision of the court, but we oppose the verdict and are evaluating our next steps,” the airline stated.
In a related incident from 2017, American Airlines faced a similar lawsuit, where it was claimed that a stroke victim was left unattended and nearly wandered into traffic at JFK International Airport.
A 67-year-old woman boarded her flight appearing unwell, prompting the airline to contact her son for assistance. However, it’s said that he did not monitor her closely. As a result, she managed to exit the gate area and ended up in oncoming traffic. Luckily, she was unharmed but was later found by police, shaking and confused, seeking help.
