Shocking way American Airlines staff 'left our dad to die' after he fell ill on long-haul flight

Daily Mail​

25-04-2025

A Kentucky family has accused American Airlines of ignoring their dad's medical distress and allowing him to catch his connection flight, which they claimed led to his death.
John William Cannon, 62, died two years ago this month after suffering a 'syncopal,' or fainting, event while traveling on the airline Kentucky to Colorado for his female partner's celebration of life ceremony in April 2023.
While deplaning in Texas, Cannon suffered the fainting event and was helped to the floor of the jet bridge, but was later released to catch his connection flight despite 'exhibiting concerning signs of medical distress,' the complaint, viewed by DailyMail.com, read.
The father was experiencing labored breathing and losing consciousness - symptoms the family said should have clued American Airline's employees to help Cannon further.
His son, Kyle, and the family's attorneys argue his death was the 'direct and proximate result of the negligence and fault of' the airline.
'The circumstances of this case represent a tangible manifestation of a corporate culture at American Airlines that prioritizes inaction over intervention,' lawyers Joseph LoRusso and Jessica McBryant told DailyMail.com.
'This ingrained culture, to which John Cannon tragically fell victim, underscores a systemic issue the family is determined to address, both in seeking justice for John and in advocating for broader organizational change.'
Kyle is seeking damages for his father having to go through 'conscious pain, suffering, mental anguish, loss of time and income, medical expenses, and other damages prior to his death,' People reported.
The Cannon family is seeking $75,000 in damages, plus attorney fees.
American Airlines said in a statement to DailyMail.com: 'We are reviewing the complaint.'
Cannon died of a heart attack while paramedics were taking him to a hospital in rural Durango, Colorado.
Cannon boarded American Airlines (AAL) Flight 1444 from Louisville to Dallas-Fort Worth on April 28 at around 12:30pm.
He collapsed while deplaning in Dallas and was 'helped to the floor of the jet bridge', the complaint states.
'Two minutes and fifteen seconds later, John was released to make his connecting flight,' the lawsuit adds. 'While Mr. Cannon exhibited concerning signs of medical distress, AAL personnel proceeded to transfer him to his connecting flight.'
He flew from Dallas to Durango onboard Flight 4896, but allegedly fell unconscious 'during the flight, and/or at the time of de-boarding.'
The complaint, which does not note the exact time the flight landed, states that crew called emergency services at 4:04pm to report Cannon's deteriorating condition, allegedly after the deplaning process was complete.
Firefighters rushed to the scene and gave Cannon an 'oxygen treatment' before removing him from the aircraft with the help of paramedics, according to the suit.
He was taken to Durango's Mercy Medical Center in an ambulance, but suffered a 'sinus bradycardia' - a heart rhythm where your heart beats slower than expected - during transport, which progressed to cardiac arrest.
'The ambulance crew performed approximately 10 minutes of chest compression, administered two doses of epinephrine, and delivered multiple Automated External Defibrillator (AED) shocks,' the complaint states.
But despite paramedics' best efforts, he did not resume a sustained heart rhythm and effective blood flow, and was pronounced dead the next morning at 1:29am.
The lawsuit - initially filed in Denver County District Court, but removed to Denver federal court Tuesday - accuses American Airlines of negligent delay in medical aid, failure to deny boarding in Dallas, neglect in first aid delivery, and medical triage negligence.
It alleges that crew did not pay appropriate attention to Cannon's condition, failed to prioritize his needs, and did not take reasonable steps to get him to the care of a physician in a timely manner.