Spirit Airlines Sued Over Death of Dementia Patient Abandoned at Texas Airport

Spirit Airlines has been accused of abandoning a 75-year-old dementia patient, Marcos Humberto Vindel Osorio, at Texas Airport, after which he wandered onto a highway and was fatally struck by oncoming traffic. The incident occurred on June 8, 2024, when Osorio's body was found on a roadway near the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

The family of Osorio has filed a lawsuit against Spirit Airlines, alleging that the airline failed to provide the promised assistance for Osorio upon his arrival from Honduras. The family claims that Osorio needed assistance and supervision due to his mild dementia, which was triggered and exacerbated by stress.

According to the lawsuit, Spirit Airlines was required to provide disability assistance under the Air Carrier Access Act, including assisting disabled passengers with moving to and from the gate, boarding, and deplaning. The Osorio family is seeking compensatory damages, survival damages, and wrongful death damages, plus interest, for mental anguish, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses.

The court will resume hearing on the case, with an initial pretrial conference scheduled for July 17.