American Airlines Ordered to Pay $9.6M After Passenger’s Stroke

A California federal jury has ordered American Airlines to pay $9.6 million for neglecting a passenger who suffered a stroke on an international flight, finding that the carrier failed to follow its own policies and procedures.

The San Jose-based jury ruled that Fort Worth-headquartered American Airlines was liable for failing to report the midflight symptoms of Jesus Plasencia, a Watsonville, California resident and chef, who experienced a medical emergency on Flight 68 from Miami to Madrid in March 2021. According to evidence presented at the six-day trial, Plasencia suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA) — sometimes called a “mini stroke” — while at the gate in Miami but was unaware of the event. His wife, Marcela Tavantzis, alerted a flight attendant that her husband had temporarily lost motor control and was speaking “gibberish,” but the incident was not escalated to medical personnel.

A TIA is a temporary disruption of blood flow to part of the brain, producing stroke-like symptoms such as one-sided weakness, slurred speech, and blurred vision. Though most TIA symptoms resolve within minutes, they often signal that a more serious stroke may be imminent, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Despite the warning signs, an American Airlines pilot cleared the aircraft for takeoff in violation of the carrier’s policies, Plasencia’s attorneys said. After departure, his symptoms worsened, but the flight crew allegedly asked other passengers to monitor him rather than informing the cockpit or seeking emergency diversion. As a result, Plasencia went without urgent medical treatment for eight hours. Typically, airlines will divert flights to the nearest airport during an onboard medical emergency.

“It is shocking that American Airlines responded so poorly to a medical emergency like this, and it is appalling that the airline tried to defend its conduct by claiming Mr. Plasencia had pre-existing conditions,” said Darren Nicholson, lead counsel for Tavantzis and Plasencia and an attorney at Dallas-based Burns Charest LLP. Hannah Crowe of Burns Charest and San Mateo-based attorney Sanjiv Singh also tried the case.

“Under a treaty called the Montreal Convention, passengers have extra protections on international flights,” Crowe added. “The jury rightfully determined American violated the law, and we are grateful for their verdict.”

In a statement responding to the verdict, American Airlines said, “The safety and well-being of our passengers is our highest priority. While we respect the jury’s decision, we disagree with the verdict and are currently evaluating next steps.”

The case underscores the importance of airlines promptly reporting and responding to in-flight medical emergencies. Under the Montreal Convention, which governs liability on international flights, passengers are afforded enhanced protections when injured or neglected in transit.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, dallasnews.com