A grieving mother is seeking justice and answers as she files a lawsuit against American Airlines after her 14-year-old son tragically passed away during a flight.
The incident occurred in 2022 when Kevin Greenidge and his family were returning to New York from a vacation in Honduras.
According to the lawsuit, Kevin lost consciousness shortly after takeoff.
Allegations within the lawsuit suggest that the flight crew’s response to the family’s distress call was delayed, and they either struggled to operate the defibrillator or it was malfunctioning.
Despite efforts, Kevin’s condition did not improve, prompting the flight to be diverted to Cancún. Tragically, Kevin was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital in Cancún.
Initially filed in New York in 2023, the lawsuit was refiled in Texas on Monday after American Airlines contested the case’s jurisdiction, aiming to move it to the state where the airline is headquartered.
In a heartfelt video shared by her legal representatives, Melissa Arzu, Kevin’s mother, expressed her frustration:
“After Kevin died, I never heard from American Airlines again.” She continued, “It made me feel hopeless. I want answers from American Airlines.”
According to airline records cited in the lawsuit, the flight crew was allegedly not trained to use the specific type of defibrillator onboard the aircraft.
Furthermore, the suit claims that the defibrillator failed to administer a shock but repeatedly advised the continuation of CPR.
Hannah Crowe, attorney for Arzu, stated:
“After Kevin died, the equipment went missing.”
The lawsuit seeks approximately $150,000 in compensation for the family’s devastating loss.
Responding to inquiries from Business Insider, American Airlines expressed condolences, stating:
“Our thoughts are with Mr. Greenidge’s loved ones.”
The airline declined to provide further comments, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
