The family of a 75-year-old man with dementia has filed a federal lawsuit against Spirit Airlines, alleging the carrier abandoned him at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, leading to his death after he wandered onto a highway and was struck by multiple vehicles.
According to the complaint, Marcos Humberto Vindel Osorio's relatives informed Spirit staff upon check-in in Honduras about his cognitive condition and requested assistance for deplaning and navigating the terminal in Houston. A Spirit agent confirmed that help would be provided, the lawsuit states.
After the flight landed on June 8, 2024, Osorio never appeared in the arrivals area. Family and friends waiting for him grew concerned and called the police. His body was later found on the Eastex Freeway, miles from the airport—a walk estimated to have taken two hours.
The lawsuit claims Spirit's failure to provide the promised assistance was the direct cause of Osorio's death. 'This family has suffered an unimaginable loss,' said attorney Russ Brudner. 'They trusted an airline to keep their father safe for the last few miles of his journey home.'
Spirit Airlines, which recently declared bankruptcy and is winding down operations, declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. The Air Carrier Access Act requires U.S. airlines to provide disability assistance to passengers who need it, including those with cognitive impairments.
