Overview

• A federal jury in San Jose awarded $9.6 million after concluding American Airlines failed to follow its medical protocols during a Miami–Madrid flight, with the verdict delivered Sept. 17 following a six-day trial.
• Evidence showed Jesus Plasencia experienced a transient ischemic attack at the Miami gate on Nov. 8, 2021, as his wife reported sudden speech confusion and brief loss of motor control, yet the crew did not seek medical assistance or contact the airline’s response team before departure.
• Hours into the transatlantic flight, Plasencia suffered a major left-MCA stroke; crew asked nearby passengers to watch him and did not promptly alert the pilot or divert the aircraft, according to the lawsuit.
• Plasencia was hospitalized in Madrid for more than three weeks and now requires around-the-clock care, and the family plans to use the award for home accessibility improvements and a wheelchair-capable vehicle.
• American Airlines stated that passenger safety is its highest priority and that it disagrees with the verdict, while medical authorities describe TIAs as warning signs that require rapid assessment and treatment.