United Airlines has agreed to pay a $30 million settlement after a quadriplegic passenger ended up in a coma when he was wheeled off a plane.
The incident happened in February 2019 when then-21-year-old Nathaniel Foster, who was on a wheelchair, ventilator, and tracheal tube, was traveling with his family from San Francisco to Monroe to attend a funeral. Due to his condition, the family claimed that they arranged for his accessibility needs when they booked the flight.
According to court documents, the family was disembarking a United Express flight from Houston to Monroe Airport in Louisiana—the second leg of their trip. United Express is a regional branch of United Airlines.
The complaint also mentioned that four to six people are usually involved in assisting Foster to deplane. However, there was only one flight attendant who was initially present. The agent then asked for assistance and that’s when a woman who identified herself as the “supervisor” responded with an aisle chair.
Quadriplegic Passenger Ends up In a Coma
The family insisted that they needed additional help but the agent said, “Fine. Do it yourself then…I’m out.”
That’s when a baggage claim handler, who was employed by one of the airline’s contractors, secured Foster into the aisle chair. The staff used one cross-chest restraint even if leg and lap straps were previously used on Foster. Then, the aisle chair was “aggressively pushed.” This caused Foster to jerk “forward and back” and slipped twice over the side.
Foster then told his mother that he couldn’t breathe. That’s when his mother called for a doctor. The suit says that another agent “giggled” and said to the doctor that Foster didn’t need any help. Shortly after, Foster went into cardiac arrest.
Now 26 years old, Foster can’t speak or eat solid foods. Plus, the incident shortened his already limited life expectancy from 39 to 31.5 years according to the suit.
The lawsuit was filed in 2019. The airline was accused of negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and “intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
United decided to settle on Tuesday after a one-day trial. United in a statement said, “Our top priority is to provide safe journey for all our customers, especially those who require additional assistance or the use of a wheelchair.” The statement added, “We are pleased to share that this matter has settled.” Of the $30 million paid by United, $12 million goes to the legal fees. Another $3 million goes for other costs.
