A passenger’s family has filed a lawsuit against Korean Air, alleging that the airline’s crew failed to properly respond to a medical emergency by providing an oxygen mask that was not connected to an oxygen supply, ultimately leading to the passenger’s death.
According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the family of Porscha Tynisha Brown, 33, is seeking damages and has requested a jury trial. The lawsuit was submitted on March 27.
The incident occurred on March 29, 2024, aboard Korean Air flight KE094, traveling from Washington Dulles International Airport to Incheon. Brown had boarded the flight with three friends for a trip to South Korea.
According to the complaint, Brown collapsed approximately 12 hours into the flight after returning from the lavatory. A cabin announcement was made requesting medical assistance.
Her friends, Rachel Edgar and Justin Anoruo, who were seated nearby, responded to the announcement and went to the rear of the aircraft, where they found Brown on the floor clutching her chest and struggling to breathe. She reportedly told them, “I can’t breathe.”
A flight attendant provided Brown with an oxygen mask, but she continued to experience severe breathing difficulties. The lawsuit claims that passengers at the scene believed she was receiving oxygen, although the mask was allegedly not connected to an oxygen tank.
Brown soon lost consciousness. A flight attendant brought an automated external defibrillator (AED), but, according to the plaintiffs, the device was neither used nor attempted to be used. Another passenger reportedly tried to assist with the AED, but the crew provided no instructions.
A medical kit was later brought to the scene, and a passenger administered epinephrine, but Brown’s condition continued to deteriorate.
The aircraft ultimately diverted and made an emergency landing in Osaka, Japan. Edgar and Anoruo claim they realized only after landing that the oxygen mask had not been connected to an oxygen supply. Brown was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead. The cause of death was determined to be acute heart failure.
The plaintiffs’ attorney, Hannah Crowe, argued that basic emergency measures were not properly carried out. “Fundamental steps in responding to a medical emergency were not taken,” she said, adding that Brown’s death might have been preventable with appropriate care.
She also noted that Brown’s friends were left to handle the unexpected situation of repatriating her body from Japan to the United States without preparation.
In response, Korean Air stated that its crew followed established procedures and did their best under the circumstances, adding that the airline will fully cooperate with the ongoing legal process.
