Mon, Feb 25, 2008
Relatives Say Woman Was Denied O2, Equipment Malfunctioned
An American Airlines passenger died onboard a flight from Haiti
last Friday, after being denied access to oxygen twice... and then
finding the plane's onboard O2 tanks were empty, according to one
of the woman's relatives.
The Associated Press reports Carine Desir started to experience
trouble breathing after she ate a meal om the flight to New York.
Her cousin, Antonio Oliver, says Desir asked a flight attendant for
oxygen twice -- and each time, was rebuked.
"Don't let me die," Oliver recalled Desir saying.
Eventually, according to Oliver, cabin personnel relented and
tried to administer O2 to Desir -- but found two oxygen tanks were
empty. Oliver says the crew also tried using a "box" -- likely a
defibrillator -- to revive Desir, but the equipment seemed to
malfunction.
Oliver say he asked for the plane to "land right away so I can
get her to a hospital." The pilot agreed to divert to Miami, 45
minutes away. A nurse onboard the flight also tried CPR... but
Desir passed away before the plane landed.
"Her last words were, 'I cannot breathe,"' Oliver said. The
flight continued on to JFK International.
A medical examiner ruled this weekend Desir died of natural
causes. She had prior history of heart disease, according to media
reports.
A spokeswoman for American said the matter was under
investigation, but wouldn't comment Sunday on Oliver's claims of
faulty medical equipment on the plane.
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