Woman Files Wrongful Death Suit Against JetBlue Airways
Posted by
Christina ColeJanuary 01, 2007 1:59 AMA woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against JetBlue Airways Corp., claiming the air carrier ignored her husband as he suffered a fatal heart attack during a flight two years ago.
On February 16, 2005, Robert Fossett Jr., was a passenger on the Boston-bound JetBlue Flight, when another passenger witnessed him go into "cardiac distress" and tried to alert the flight crew, according to court papers.
Karen Fossett, in her suit, filed Friday in U.S.District Court in Boston claims that "After the plane had landed, JetBlue's employees and agents determined Mr. Fossett was unresponsive, but nonetheless fully deplaned the aircraft before providing assistance, calling for help or attemption to resusciatate him.
JetBlue's legal department had not seen the complaint as of Thursday, said Jenny Dervin, spokeswoman for JetBlue. "We are unable to comment on pending litigation matters," Dervin stated.
JetBlue employees either failed to help Fossett or failed to arrange for others to help him, including having an ambulance waiting at Logan International Airport, the lawsuit says.Only after other passengers were tended to and sent on their way did JetBlue try to resuscitate Fossett with oxygen and "some form of CPR," according to the complaint. Only after those measures failed did the flight crew alert Logan's emergency services personnel, the suit alleges.
Fossett was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The suit, alleges JetBlue of negligence and of causing Fossett conscious pain and suffering. The suit does not however, name any individual flight crew members.