American Airlines Ordered to Pay $11M After Passenger Suffers Stroke Mid-Flight

AMERICAN Airlines must pay $11 million to a passenger after a jury ruled the airline failed to provide proper care, allowing him to board a transatlantic flight despite showing stroke symptoms at the gate.

The case involves flight AA68 from Miami to Madrid on November 8, 2021. California resident Jesus Plasencia, then 67, began exhibiting signs of a stroke while still at the gate, losing motor control and the ability to speak. His wife, Marcela Tavantzis, alerted the crew and urged them to get medical help.

According to court documents, the pilot allegedly dismissed the incident, joking and clearing the plane for departure rather than following airline protocols to consult medical experts. Hours into the eight-hour flight, Plasencia suffered a major stroke over the Atlantic. Onboard medical professionals intervened, but the plane lacked basic equipment, including a blood pressure cuff, forcing the flight to continue to Spain.

Upon arrival in Madrid, Plasencia was hospitalized in critical condition for over three weeks before returning to the U.S. via air ambulance. The stroke left him unable to speak, write, or communicate and fully dependent on round-the-clock care.

The couple sued American Airlines in 2023, claiming the airline’s negligence caused his catastrophic decline. Jurors awarded $9.6 million in damages, plus interest, bringing the total to $11 million.

Attorney Darren Nicholson called the airline’s response “shocking” and “appalling,” while lawyer Hannah Crowe noted that the jury found American Airlines violated international protections under the Montreal Convention.

American Airlines released a statement saying, “The safety and well-being of our passengers is our highest priority. While we respect the jury’s decision, we disagree with the verdict and are currently evaluating next steps.”

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