14-Year-Old Boy Died After Mid-Flight Medical Emergency. Mom Alleges Airline Destroyed or 'Lost' Evidence

"I never want this to happen to a child or family again," said Melissa Arzu, whose son Kevin died in 2022

• Kevin Greenidge and his family were returning home from Honduras to New York in June 2022 when he experienced a medical emergency, according to a lawsuit filed by his mother

• The plane made an emergency landing in Mexico, where Greenidge was pronounced dead

• The complaint alleged that the plane's defibrillator did not work, the flight crew failed to respond quickly enough and that the airline has now either "destroyed" the defibrillator that was used on the flight or "lost" it

A mother has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines over the death of her 14-year-old son.

According to the suit, which was filed on May 13 and obtained by PEOPLE, Kevin Greenidge and his family were returning home via AA Flight 614 from Honduras to New York on June 4, 2022. During the flight, Kevin experienced a medical emergency and became unconscious.

After the plane made an emergency landing in Mexico, Kevin was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

His mother alleges that flight personnel did not respond to his medical emergency quickly enough and that they were "unable to properly operate" the automated external defibrillator (AED) on board, or the machine itself was faulty.

"Our thoughts are with Mr. Greenidge's loved ones," a spokesperson for American Airlines told PEOPLE in a statement on Monday, May 20, adding, "We decline further comment given this matter involves pending litigation.”

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After Kevin began experiencing his medical emergency, his family immediately began calling for help. But, according to the suit, "American Airlines’ flight personnel delayed in responding to their cries for help and failed to render effective assistance."

When they "eventually" attempted to use the defibrillator to resuscitate him, the complaint alleges that issues continued.

"According to eyewitnesses, each time the AED gave a 'clear' warning for people to step back from Greenidge’s body so that a shock could be administered, a shock was not delivered. Instead, the machine simply kept advising that CPR should be continued," the suit read.

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The complaint alleges that airline records showed that the crew was not trained to use the particular type of AED machine. It also claimed that the contents of the airline emergency medical kit on the plane were unmarked.

"Had AA Flight 614 been properly equipped with the necessary and functional medical equipment, had American Airlines properly trained its airline personnel for in-flight medical events, and had airline personnel timely responded to Greenidge’s medical emergency and effectively implemented the skills learned in their training, Greenidge would not have experienced the intense physical and emotional pain he suffered on AA Flight 614," the complaint read.

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Greenidge’s family further alleged that their legal counsel had made several attempts to inspect the AED machine before filing their complaint.

“Based on conversations with American Airlines’ counsel and the airline’s refusal to permit inspection of the AED machine, it appears the AED machine has either been destroyed or put back into service and ‘lost,' " the complaint read.

The boy's mom said in a statement that after her son's death, she "never heard from American Airlines."

"It made me feel hopeless," Melissa Arzu said. "I want answers from American Airlines. I want American Airlines to take full responsibility for Kevin's death. I never want this to happen to a child or family again."

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“The loss of a child is truly unimaginable, and the facts of this case are horrendous," added attorney Hannah Crowe, who is representing Arzu. "Multiple eyewitnesses confirm that American Airlines flight personnel were slow to respond and not able to operate the AED machine, which appeared not to work.”

The lawsuit was originally filed in New York last year, but was transferred to Fort Worth, where American Airlines is based.

Texas juries are tough, but they're fair. Our jury is going to hear what happened to Kevin,” Crowe added. “They are going to hear the facts of this case, and they are going to be shocked that American Airlines would put its passengers, especially children, in this kind of danger.”

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