PR Nightmare in the Skies: American Airlines Passenger dies on flight after getting treated w/ empty oxygen tank

Public Relations Nightmares happen all over the place.  From the athletic fields to the business boardrooms to academic classrooms–they are everywhere. Wherever there you are- there is always a chance for a crisis to occur.

However, they have reached new heights with the passenger crisis facing American Airlines.  It has been reported that a passenger died on an American Airlines flight after being treated with an empty oxygen tank.  What is horrifying in the fact that it was also reported that it was not once, but TWICE that the flight attendant on the flight refused to give oxygen to the passenger.  What did AA say regarding this crisis?  Here is their statement that they released:

“We are investigating this incident, as we do with all serious medical situations on board our aircraft, but American Airlines can say oxygen was administered and the Automatic External Defibrillator was applied.  Among the preflight duties of our highly trained Flight Attendants is a check of all emergency equipment on the aircraft. This includes checking the oxygen bottles — there were 12 in this particular aircraft. We stand behind the actions and training of our crew and the functionality of the onboard medical equipment. We are also grateful to medical volunteers on this flight who came to the aid of a fellow traveler during flight.”

American Airlines is facing many, many, MANY public relations issues in this situation.  First, they have to deal with the external pressures and concerns that are being raised– like– how could this have possibly happened? What could have been done to prevent this?  Plus, they will have to do some serious internal PR strategies and tactics as well.  They are going to have to address this crisis to their employees as well as the flight attendants.  I think that I can say that the flight attendants and others working on this particular flight are definitely going to have to face a tough investigation.  AA also will have to prepare themselves for a possible lawsuit from this as well.

Hope you all are having a great day! 🙂

Best Wishes,

Karen 🙂