A 62-year-old man experienced a serious medical emergency on an American Airlines flight and subsequently died after the crew delayed calling for medical help until after landing, taxiing to the gate, and allowing all passengers to disembark, according to a lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Colorado against American Airlines and its regional carrier Envoy Air, seeks at least $75,000 in damages for the death of John Cannon, who was traveling from Kentucky to Durango-La Plata County Airport.
The lawsuit, brought by his son, claims that the “untimely passing of John William Cannon on April 29, 2023, was a direct result of the negligence of the Defendants.”
It alleges that American Airlines and Envoy Air “failed to fulfill their duty of care,” leading to Cannon’s death by “not providing adequate first aid onboard” and “not prioritizing John William Cannon during the deboarding process when he showed severe physical distress,” among other claimed failings.
DELTA PASSENGERS IN ORLANDO EVACUATE PLANE DUE TO ENGINE FIRE
An American Eagle Embraer 175 takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in August 2024 in Arlington, Virginia. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
American Airlines stated to Fox News Digital, “We are reviewing the complaint.”
Attorneys mentioned that prior to his death, Cannon boarded a flight from Louisville to Dallas, where he “experienced a syncopal event” or loss of consciousness during the flight or right after deboarding.
“After this incident, he was helped onto the floor of the jet bridge at Gate 12 in Terminal B of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Two minutes and fifteen seconds later, he was allowed to continue to his connecting flight,” it stated.
READ THE FILING BELOW. APP USERS: CLICK HERE
On the Dallas to Durango flight operated by Envoy Air, Cannon “suffered a medical crisis and became unresponsive,” according to the lawsuit.
FAMED STUNT PILOT DEAD AFTER PLANE CRASH AT LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, NTSB INVESTIGATING
American Airlines signage at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in July 2024. The airline is currently “reviewing the complaint,” according to Fox News Digital. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The lawsuit charges that “despite Mr. Cannon’s worsening medical condition, the AAL4896 flight crew delayed calling for assistance until after the plane had landed, taxied to the gate, and all passengers had left the aircraft.”
A crew member “contacted emergency services and reported Mr. Cannon was in and out of consciousness with difficulty breathing,” which prompted firefighters with Durango La Plata Fire to administer oxygen treatment before transporting him off the plane with EMS personnel.
An American Airlines Airbus A321 at Los Angeles International Airport on March 30, 2025. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
“While being transported to Mercy Medical Center, Mr. Cannon experienced sinus bradycardia, leading to ventricular fibrillation arrest. The ambulance team performed about ten minutes of chest compressions, administered two doses of epinephrine, and delivered several shocks with an Automated External Defibrillator. Despite these efforts, Mr. Cannon did not regain spontaneous circulation,” the lawsuit states. “The next morning, at 12:29 AM, Mr. Cannon was declared dead.”
