Family Suing for Death of Man on American Airlines Flight

The family of Othon Cortes has filed a $1 million lawsuit against American Airlines alleging AA of being negligent by allowing Cortes to board a flight even though appearing extremely ill, failing to provide adequate medical attention, and for delaying the plane's emergency landing in Norfolk, VA.

During a flight from Barcelona to New York, Cortes- traveling with his wife and daughter- consumed an in-flight meal of chicken and suffered severe stomach pain afterwards. The family made a connecting flight to Miami where he is reported to have felt nauseated and short of breath. During the flight to Miami, Cortes suffered a cardiac event, the plane was diverted to Norfolk, and Cortes was declared dead.

The cause of the cardiac event is currently unknown. Though most food poisoning incidents take 12-24 hours to appear, there are more virulent strains that can appear in 6 hours or so.