The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the airline failed him.
In June of last year, a 25-year-old British passenger tragically died on a British Airways flight headed to New York. His family is now suing the airline for wrongful death. The lawsuit, filed on October 31 by his brother Hershel, seeks unspecified damages.
Shimon Breuer began having difficulty breathing just an hour before the plane was due to land in the U.S., where he was planning to volunteer at a children’s summer camp. The lawsuit alleges that he gasped for air and begged for help, but the crew didn’t provide proper medical attention. They did not make an announcement to check if there was a doctor on board. “This airline had a responsibility to this young man, they failed him, and now his family is left to pick up the pieces.”
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After the incident, news reports claimed that Breuer accidentally dropped his inhaler between the seats and blacked out after he was unable to retrieve it. The crew administered CPR but couldn’t revive him because they didn’t realize his airways had closed. However, Breuer’s brother’s attorney, Abe Bohrer, has rejected those claims and told The Independent that it was an inaccurate representation of events.
The lawsuit claims that despite being aware of the severity of Breuer’s distress, crew members failed to promptly take measures to prevent his death. They didn’t contact their on-ground telemedicine provider for guidance, didn’t use the aircraft’s emergency medical kit, and didn’t declare an emergency to expedite landing, among other measures.
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American Airlines, a co-defendant in the lawsuit for its code-sharing with the British Airways flight, refused to comment.
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What Happens When Someone Dies on Board?
Flight crews are trained to administer first aid and CPR, and most planes also have life-saving equipment and medications. They also make an announcement to check if there’s a doctor on board. However, they can’t declare death, so the person is presumed to be dead.
It’s not a common occurrence, but eventualities do happen on flights, and airlines have protocols for such instances. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has suggested guidelines for airlines when a person has been declared (or presumed) dead.
The crew needs to inform the pilot immediately to ensure authorities meet the flight. It might not necessarily cause a diversion because a third destination may add another layer of complexity, Markus Ruediger, the assistant director of corporate communications at IATA, explained to HuffPost. In such cases, there is a lot of sensitivity with which the crew needs to operate to offer dignity in death to the passenger and ensure that their travel companions and other passengers feel comfortable.
The passenger might be moved to a seat, preferably away from other passengers, or those around the deceased may be moved to other seats if possible. They may be covered with a blanket up to their neck and restrained with a seatbelt, or a body bag may be used if it’s available on the flight. Upon landing, other passengers are asked to deboard first while authorities take care of the body, and ground personnel should assist their travel companions.
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