US family suing Dubai's Emirates Airline for negligence

By Shane McGinley
  • Sunday, 6 March 2011 11:48 AM
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US LAWSUIT: Emirates is being sued in the US by the family of a passenger who died following a heart attack on a flight from Dubai last year (Bloomberg Images)

US LAWSUIT: Emirates is being sued in the US by the family of a passenger who died following a heart attack on a flight from Dubai last year (Bloomberg Images)

Dubai's Emirates Airline is being sued in the US by the family of a passenger who died following a heart attack on a flight from Dubai last year, it was reported at the weekend.

Lawyers for the family of the late Carol Wilson filed a lawsuit at the US District Court in Texas, claiming that staff of the Dubai-based airline failed to adequately assist the 70-year-old passenger when she suffered a heart attack.

Wilson was travelling with her son Shawn Carriker from Dubai to her home in Houston, Texas, when she suffered a heart attack in the toilets.

Although she regained conscious and paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when the plane landed, Wilson was moved to a local hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

"There's policies and procedures in place when a medical emergency arises and Emirates failed to follow those policies and procedures and that contributed to Carol's death," the family’s attorney Kerry Guidry told AOL Travel News.

"She suffered cardiac arrest. The first seven to ten minutes are critical in cardiac arrest, and they (Emirates) did nothing, and that's what we believe led to her death."

The flight took place on April 2010 and a Texas court date for proceeding had been set for September 19.

“We cannot comment on any ongoing litigation,” an Emirates Airline spokesperson said when contacted regarding the case.

The Dubai-based carrier was last week declared the world's third largest carrier by capacity [photo gallery].

With 144 aircraft in its fleet, the Dubai-based airline has overtaken US carrier United and is now behind only Delta and American Airlines, according to a new report by researchers at Innovata.

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Posted by: Alexander Speer Tuesday, 14 August 2012 4:11 PM[UAE] - United Kingdom

Another article about this said that she was in good heath before departure and no pre existing conditions existed.

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Posted by: K K Thursday, 10 March 2011 2:12 PM[UAE] - Sri Lanka.

Iam just wondering whether the hospital that announced her dead is being sued also??

The familys lawyer did not mention if she had heart issues before she left dubai and in that case how could she travel without consulting a doctor?

it seems everybody is sueing everybody in the times of recession.

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Posted by: Lakshman Dalpadado Wednesday, 9 March 2011 8:38 PM[UAE] - LK

"She suffered cardiac arrest. The first seven to ten minutes are critical in cardiac arrest, and they (Emirates) did nothing, and that's what we believe led to her death."

If nothing was done after the cardiac arrest the lady would have died within 10 minutes( technically -- brain dead) . The fact that she was alive and conscious after landing means something was done--- or she did not suffer a cardiac arrest following her MI. In the latter case CPR is not indicated.

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Posted by: Jafar Wednesday, 9 March 2011 3:38 PM[UAE] - UAE

It sounds like the people who are suing Emirates are desperate for some cash.

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Posted by: NHighton Wednesday, 9 March 2011 3:32 PM[UAE] - Dubai, UAE

'The first seven to ten minutes are critical in cardiac arrest'

Unless it's within Emirates' procedures to knock the toilet door down if a passenger is in there for more than 10 minutes, I don't see how she could have realistically received any post-heart attack treatment within that critical 10 minute window

Is it also Emirates' fault that she may have eaten unhealthily throughout her life, slacked in doing enough physical activity, had a genetic history of heart failure/disease? Is it surprising that the plane was coming en route to Houston; one of the top fattest cities in the world?

I suppose these questions will all be addressed in the perfect place for them to be investigated - a court of law. (Congratulations if your sarcasm alarms are sounding)

Without carrying a qualified heart surgeon & team on-board at all times, not much else can be done. Emirates were just unlucky that they had a heart attack victim on their flight. I find it frightening that this case can get this far!

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