14-Year-Old Boy Died After Mid-Flight Medical Emergency. Mom Alleges Airline Destroyed or 'Lost' Evidence

• Kevin Greenidge and his family were returning home from Honduras to New York in June 2022 when he suffered a medical emergency, according to a lawsuit filed by his mother
• The plane made an emergency landing in Mexico, where Greenidge was pronounced dead
• The complaint alleged that the plane’s defibrillator did not work, the flight crew did not react quickly enough and that the airline has now either “destroyed” the defibrillator used during the flight or “lost it”.

A mother has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines over the death of her 14-year-old son.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed May 13 and obtained by PEOPLE, Kevin Greenidge and his family were returning home on Flight 614 AA from Honduras to New York on June 4, 2022. During the flight, Kevin experienced a medical emergency and became unconscious .

After the plane made an emergency landing in Mexico, Kevin was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

His mother claims the flight crew did not respond quickly enough to his medical emergency and that they “could not properly operate” the plane’s automated external defibrillator (AED) or the machine itself was malfunctioning.

“Our thoughts are with Mr. Greenidge’s loved ones,” an American Airlines spokesperson told PEOPLE in a statement on Monday, May 20, adding, “We decline further comment as this matter involves ongoing litigation.”

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After Kevin began experiencing a medical emergency, his family immediately began calling for help. But, according to the lawsuit, “American Airlines flight personnel delayed responding to their cries for help and failed to provide effective assistance.”

When they “eventually” tried to use a defibrillator to revive him, the complaint says the problems continued.

“According to eyewitnesses, every time the AED gave a ‘clear’ warning to people to move away from Greenidge’s body so that a shock could be administered, no shock was delivered. Instead, the machine simply advised that CPR should be continued,” it said is on the suit.

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The complaint alleges that the airline’s records showed that the crew had not been trained to use a certain type of AED device. He also claimed that the contents of the plane’s first aid kit were unmarked.

Kevin Greenidge (L) with his mother Melissa Arzu.

Burns Charest LLP

“That Flight AA 614 was properly equipped with the necessary and functional medical equipment, that American Airlines properly trained its flight crew for in-flight medical events, and that the flight crew responded in a timely manner to Greenidge’s medical emergency and effectively applied the skills acquired during the training, Greenidge would not have experienced the intense physical and emotional pain he suffered on AA Flight 614,” the complaint states.

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Greenidge’s family further claimed that their legal counsel made several attempts to inspect the AED device before filing the complaint.

“Based on discussions with American Airlines’ attorney and the airline’s refusal to allow inspection of the AED device, it appears that the AED device was either destroyed or returned to service and ‘lost,'” the complaint states.

Kevin Greenidge (L), who died in 2022 after an incident on a flight to New York, according to a lawsuit filed by his mother, Melissa Arzu.

Burns Charest LLP

The boy’s mother said in a statement that she “never heard from American Airlines” after her son’s death.

“I felt hopeless,” Melissa Arzu said. “I want answers from American Airlines. I want American Airlines to take full responsibility for Kevin’s death. I don’t want this to ever happen to a child or a family again.”

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“The loss of a child is truly unimaginable, and the facts of this case are horrific,” added attorney Hannah Crowe, who is representing Arza. “Multiple eyewitnesses confirm that American Airlines flight personnel were slow to respond and were unable to operate the AED machine, which appeared to be malfunctioning.”

The suit was originally filed in New York last year, but was moved to Fort Worth, where American Airlines is headquartered.

Texas juries are tough, but they are fair. Our jury will hear what happened to Kevin,” added Crowe. “They will hear the facts of this case and they will be shocked that American Airlines put its passengers, especially children, in this kind of danger.”

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