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Woman Dies During Flight to JFK, Family Blames Airline
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 25, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 25, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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On Friday, a woman traveling from Haiti to New York City died on the American Airlines flight. Her cousin say the crew initially refused to give her oxygen and that when they did, the oxygen tanks were empty and the defibrillator wasn't working.
Carine Desir, who lives in Brooklyn and is a nurse, "collapsed an hour into the flight." She was traveling with her brother Joel Desir and cousin Antonio Oliver, who tried to get the plane's crew to help her. At first, Desir was very thirsty, but then had trouble breathing. Oliver says the flight attendant initially refused his cousin's request for oxygen, prompting Desir to say, "Don't let me die."
The AP reports other passengers "became agitated over the situation" so the flight attendant did give Desir oxygen, but found the tank empty. When doctors and nurses who were on the flight did tried to give her oxygen, they found the a second tank empty. The pilot agreed to divert the plane to Miami (45 minutes away), but Desir died and her body was moved into the first class section.
Desir did have heart disease, and the NYC Medical Examiner's office determine she died of natural causes. Her brother said, "Maybe she could have been saved." And her husband told the News, "How can a big plane like that not have the proper equipment? It's unacceptable. She didn't get any help."
Tagged
american airlines
brooklyn
city
haiti
jfk airport
Medical Examiner
miami
new york
new york city
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nyc
On Friday
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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