The mother of the late Kevin Arzu said, “I never want this to happen to another child or family.”
American Airlines is being sued by a mother for the death of her 14-year-old son.
The suit, which was filed on May 13 and seen by PEOPLE, says that Kevin Greenidge and his family were taking AA Flight 614 from Honduras to New York on June 4, 2022, to go home. Kevin had an emergency with his health and lost consciousness during the trip.
Kevin was taken to a hospital in Mexico after the plane had to make an emergency landing. There, he was declared dead.
His mother says that the cabin crew did not react quickly enough to his medical emergency and that they were either “unable to properly operate” the automated external defibrillator (AED) on board, or the machine itself was broken.
An American Airlines spokesperson told PEOPLE in a statement on Monday, May 20, “Our thoughts are with Mr. Greenidge’s family and friends.” The spokesperson also said, “We decline further comment as this matter is currently being litigated.”
When Kevin started having his medical emergency, his family called for help right away. But, the suit says, “American Airlines’ flight personnel delayed in responding to their cries for help and failed to render effective assistance.”
The report says that problems kept happening when they “eventually” tried to use the defibrillator to bring him back to life.
Witnesses say that no shock was given each time the AED said it was “clear” for people to move away from Greenidge’s body so that a shock could be given. “Instead, the machine kept telling them to keep doing CPR,” the suit said.
The lawsuit says that airline records show the crew wasn’t taught how to use that type of AED machine. It also said that the airline’s emergency medical kit on the plane didn’t have any labels on it.
“Had AA Flight 614 been properly equipped with the necessary and functional medical equipment, had American Airlines properly trained its airline personnel for in-flight medical events, and had airline personnel timely responded to Greenidge’s medical emergency and effectively implemented the skills learned in their training, Greenidge would not have experienced the intense physical and emotional pain he suffered on AA Flight 614,” the complaint said.
Greenidge’s family also said that their lawyer had tried more than once to look at the AED machine before they filed their lawsuit.
“According to conversations with American Airlines’ lawyer and the fact that the airline refused to let the AED machine be inspected, it looks like the AED machine has either been destroyed or put back into service and then “lost,” “the complaint said.
It was written down that the boy’s mother “never heard from American Airlines” after her son died.
Melanie Arzu said, “It made me feel hopeless.” “I need American Airlines to answer my questions. I think American Airlines should fully answer for Kevin’s death. This should never happen to a child or family again.
Arzu’s lawyer, Hannah Crowe, said, “The loss of a child is truly unimaginable, and the facts of this case are horrendous.” “Many witnesses agree that American Airlines flight attendants were slow to react and couldn’t use the AED machine, which didn’t seem to work.”
The suit was first filed in New York last year, but it was later moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where American Airlines is based.
Texas courts are strict, but they’re also fair. “What happened to Kevin will be told to our jury,” Crowe said. “When they hear the facts of this case, they will be shocked that American Airlines would put its passengers in such danger, especially children.”