Woman Dies On American Airlines Flight

On every commercial flight, airline attendants give a safety speech. This speech points out safety features and details what is expected of customers in an emergency. The impression is given that the airline has adequate equipment and training to take care of things if an emergency does happen. That may not be true.

Consider the case of Carine Desir. On an American Airlines flight from Haiti to New York, Desir began to complain of being unable to breathe. She requested oxygen, and was refused it twice by an attendant.

Finally, the attendant woke up to the fact that this woman was in serious trouble. Two oxygen tanks were provided and both proved to be empty. When the woman stopped breathing and her heart stopped, an on-board defibrillator also proved to be defective.

The woman died.

This doesn't inspire confidence in the airline. Why weren't the oxygen tanks and defibrillator checked before the flight? It makes me wonder, if the cabin loses pressure will the drop-down masks contain oxygen and work properly? When were they last checked? Are there other things on-board that won't work when needed?

And why wasn't the woman given oxygen the first time she asked for it (rather than the third)? It wasn't like she was asking for an extra drink or snack. She was trying to breathe!

This doesn't make me want to rush out and buy an airline ticket.