An elderly Spirit Airlines passenger with dementia died after landing in Houston and wandering onto a busy highway two years ago, according to a bombshell lawsuit accusing the shuttered airline of negligence.
Marcos Humberto Vindel Osorio, 75, went missing on June 8, 2024, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport after arriving from Honduras and was later found dead miles from the airport on the side of a freeway.
He was hit by multiple vehicles, causing unthinkable grief to his family, who filed a lawsuit against Spirit Airlines on April 22 — less than two weeks before the company went bankrupt.
Osorio family’s claim in the suit that the defunct airliner was informed of Marcos’ dementia, and that the company “confirmed that assistance would be provided,” however, “Spirit failed to provide any such assistance,” the Independent reported.
Yisell Osorio, Marcos’ daughter, and other relatives were waiting for him at a checkpoint inside the airport where after the flight landed at 7 p.m.
The Osorio family became concerned when Marcos did not show up, and called the police.
Later, Customs and Border Patrol told them that Marcos had already gone through customs by 7:43 p.m., according to the suit.
“This family has suffered an unimaginable loss,” the Osorio family’s attorney, Russ Brudner, told the Independent.
“They trusted an airline to keep their father safe for the last few miles of his journey home. That trust was broken in the most devastating way possible. We filed this lawsuit on their behalf because what happened to Marcos should never happen to anyone, and Spirit Airlines must be held accountable.”
Normally, an automatic stay issued by a judge would shield Spirit Airlines from any liability given they are in the process of liquidation.
However, because the Osorio family’s lawsuit was filed on April 22, they are technically a creditor in bankruptcy proceedings if Spirit is found liable, and Spirit must resolve the suit as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.
The Osorio family is seeking compensatory damages, survival damages and wrongful death damages, plus interest, for mental anguish; loss of companionship and burial and funeral expenses, according to the Independent.
The Post has reached out to Spirit Airlines for comment.
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