A federal court of California has condemned to American Airlines to pay 11 million dollars, equivalent to little less than ten millionof eurosafter the stroke he suffered Jesús Plasencia during a flight between Miami y Madrid in November 2021.
The ruling, issued September 17considers that the airline did not follow the protocol in an urgent medical situation, which aggravated the consequences for the passenger. The decision is based on the Montreal Conventionwhich regulates the responsibility of airlines on flights International.
Before takeoff, Plasencia He began to show obvious symptoms Of a possible stroke: he lost control of his mobile phone, spoke in a way incoherent And I could not articulate words clearly. His wife, Ana Mary Marce Tavantzisimmediately identified the severity of the situation and alerted the crew.
However, the answer was not expected. He pilotinstead of activating the medical protocol, it fell importance to the matter and even made Jocyous commentsas recorded in the lawsuit filed before the Court.
The protocol was ignored and the plane took off
Flight 68 American Airlines He took off despite the warning, without consulted with a medical line or seeking assistance among passengers. During the journey, on the AtlanticPlasencia suffered a serious stroke that left him paralyzed the right side of the body and caused him Permanent neurological damage. When landing in Madrid, he was transferred to a hospitalwhere he entered three weeks before being repatriate a USA In a medicalized plane.
The sequelae of the episode have been devastating. Almost two years later, Plasencia cannot talk, write, walk, feed nor do basic tasks Without assistance. It depends on a wheelchair and requires continuous attention in your home. His wife, who witnessed the deterioration, says that everything could have been different If the crew had acted with due diligence before takeoff.
The marriage lawyer, Nicholson Drorehe described the action of the airline as “alarming” and criticized that he tried to justify his inaction alleging previous diseases of the passenger.
For its part, American Airlines He expressed his disagreement with the verdict through the declaration of one of his spokesmen in Los Angeles Timesalthough he indicated that respected The jury’s decision and evaluated his next steps. The failure not only covers medical expenses, but also moral damage and emotional lossesallowing the family to face the costs of permanent care and adapt their home to the new needs.
