The tragic case of Kevin Greenridge, a teenager from New York who died during a flight to Miami due to an uncharged automatic external defibrillator (AED), highlights the critical need for airlines to prioritize passenger safety and adhere to established safety regulations.
This devastating incident has led Kevin’s mother, Melissa Arzu, to file a lawsuit against American Airlines, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the dire consequences that can result from negligence in maintaining essential safety equipment.
On June 4, 2022, Kevin Greenridge was flying from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to Miami when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest. The crew on board attempted to resuscitate him, but the AED on the aircraft was not charged. Despite an emergency landing in Cancun, Mexico, Kevin did not survive the heart attack. His mother, Melissa, is now seeking damages and attorney fees in a lawsuit filed against American Airlines in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The lawsuit alleges that Kevin’s death was “caused wholly and solely by reason of the carelessness, recklessness, and negligence of the defendant AMERICAN, its respective agents, servants and/or employees in failing to maintain an automatic external defibrillator on board the subject flight.” Furthermore, it claims that American Airlines failed to adequately train its employees in basic resuscitation techniques, thereby “causing, permitting, and allowing the mobile battery pack to drain down to no power, thereby causing AED to stop working.”
The suit adds, “That as a consequence of the defendant’s negligence in failing to maintain a working defibrillator upon their flight caused, permitted, and/or hastened the untimely death of… Kevin Greenridge.”
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The lawsuit cites the Aviation Medical Assistance Act of 1998, which mandates that airlines carry defibrillators on each aircraft with flight attendants. Additionally, the law requires that these emergency devices be inspected regularly to ensure their condition for continued serviceability and immediate readiness to perform their intended emergency purposes.
This heartbreaking incident underscores the importance of airlines maintaining and inspecting life-saving equipment such as AEDs, as well as providing proper training for their employees. American Airlines’ alleged negligence not only resulted in the tragic loss of a young life but also exposed a critical gap in their safety procedures. The airline industry must take this case as a wake-up call to reevaluate and reinforce their safety protocols, ensuring that all necessary measures are in place to protect passengers in emergency situations.
The outcome of this lawsuit will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the broader conversation surrounding airline safety and the responsibility of carriers to uphold stringent safety standards. It is crucial that airlines prioritize the well-being of their passengers by maintaining and regularly inspecting their emergency equipment and providing comprehensive training for their staff. Failure to do so can lead to disastrous consequences, as demonstrated by the untimely death of Kevin Greenridge.
We must advocate for stricter enforcement of safety regulations within the airline industry, holding companies accountable for their actions and demanding transparency in their safety practices. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder that there is no room for negligence when it comes to passenger safety. As consumers, we must demand the highest standards from airlines and ensure that they are held accountable for their actions.
In memory of Kevin Greenridge, let us push for more rigorous safety measures and better employee training within the airline industry to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. Our lives and the lives of our loved ones depend on it.
Source: 100PercentFedUp