The mother of the late Kevin Arzu expressed her sorrow, saying, “I never want this to happen to another child or family.”
A mother is suing American Airlines following the death of her 14-year-old son, Kevin Greenidge. The lawsuit, filed on May 13 and reviewed by PEOPLE, states that Kevin and his family were on AA Flight 614 from Honduras to New York on June 4, 2022, when Kevin experienced a medical emergency and lost consciousness.
After an emergency landing in Mexico, Kevin was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Kevin’s mother claims the cabin crew did not respond promptly to his medical crisis and were either “unable to properly operate” the onboard automated external defibrillator (AED) or the device was malfunctioning.
An American Airlines spokesperson expressed condolences, stating, “Our thoughts are with Mr. Greenidge’s family and friends,” but declined further comment due to ongoing litigation.
The lawsuit alleges that when Kevin’s medical emergency began, his family immediately called for help. However, the suit claims, “American Airlines’ flight personnel delayed in responding and failed to render effective assistance.”
The report further states that when the crew eventually attempted to use the defibrillator, it failed to deliver a shock, despite the AED indicating it was “clear” to do so. Instead, the machine continuously advised to continue CPR.
The lawsuit asserts that airline records show the crew was not trained to use that specific AED model and that the aircraft’s emergency medical kit lacked proper labeling.
The complaint contends, “Had AA Flight 614 been properly equipped with functional medical equipment, had American Airlines adequately trained its personnel for in-flight medical emergencies, and had the crew promptly and effectively responded to Greenidge’s medical emergency, he would not have endured the intense physical and emotional pain on AA Flight 614.”
Kevin’s family also stated that their lawyer’s attempts to inspect the AED machine before filing the lawsuit were unsuccessful. According to the complaint, conversations with American Airlines’ lawyer and the airline’s refusal to allow an inspection suggest the AED machine may have been destroyed or reused and subsequently “lost.”
Kevin’s mother said she “never heard from American Airlines” after her son’s death, expressing her despair: “It made me feel hopeless. I need American Airlines to answer my questions. They should fully account for Kevin’s death. This should never happen to another child or family again.”
Arzu’s lawyer, Hannah Crowe, remarked, “The loss of a child is truly unimaginable, and the facts of this case are horrendous.” She emphasized that multiple witnesses reported the flight attendants’ delayed response and inability to use the AED, which appeared to be defective.
Initially filed in New York last year, the suit has since been moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where American Airlines is headquartered. Crowe expressed confidence in the Texas court system, stating, “Texas courts are strict but fair. What happened to Kevin will be presented to our jury. When they hear the facts, they will be shocked that American Airlines would endanger its passengers, especially children, in such a manner.”