Missing passenger's husband sues American Airlines

CNN.com ^ | April 19, 2002 | Associated Press

[maximus@Nashville]

BAKERSFIELD, California (AP) -- The husband of a 70-year-old Alzheimer's patient who vanished while changing planes at a Texas airport in December has sued American Airlines for $10 million.

Joe Dabney's lawsuit, filed Thursday, blames the airline for gross negligence and incompetence in the disappearance of Margie Dabney, who hasn't been seen since December 5.

[maximus@Nashville]

OK, so what is the culpability of the husband, who, knowing his wife to have Alzheimer's and a propensity to wander off, took the only attendent away from her without informing said attendent? If the Airline indeed had something to do with the disappearance, why did not Robert Blake just take a trip?

[billybudd]

This is soooooo stupid, it's one of those lawsuits that makes me ashamed of the entire judicial system. The airline didn't lose that woman - she lost herself. If the husband was so concerned about her, he should have held her hand the entire way. The airline's not responsible for jack-sh!t.

[vikingchick]

Margie Dabney was so disoriented that she had tried to open a plane door in flight.

And he had just had hip surgery. These people should have had a full-time nurse accompanying them.

[big gray tabby]

Old people are so feeble and whiny!

[Sandy]

It's the husband's fault. He's just lashing out. Sad.

[dstarr]

I agree with your comment. They should not have been traveling by themselves. I would hazard a guess that they were going to see family in California. Someone should have hired them an attendant to make the entire trip with them. The only problem would have been when the attendant had to take the husband into the men's room. Who would have been holding on to the wife to keep her from wandering off. It's really inevitable that something would happen to one of them.

[Tijeras_Slim]

It is Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, she could still be walking to her connecting flight...

[Dog Gone]

"She's either dead somewhere or is being housed by someone," he said.

Well duh. I think we can rule out the possibility that she got an apartment and a job at McDonalds.

We can also rule out the idea that somebody is housing her. The demand for senile old roommates is very low.

She's dead. But in reality, her mind died a long time ago.

[Reeses]

sued American Airlines for $10 million.

Times have changed. The customary lawsuit figure used to be $1 million. I wonder if the old geezer has the color of his Porsche already picked out.

[GoreIsLove]

It is Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, she could still be walking to her connecting flight...

That's probably the most logical answer.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Were these people Muslim? Were they perhaps really trying to hijack the plane or crash it into a building when she “attempted to open the door”? Maybe someone stole her ID and was thwarted in this hijack attempt and the real Mrs. Dabney is being held hostage in a cheese factory near the Saudi border with Yemen.

What does the White House know of this, and when did they know it?

[aomagrat]

Maybe she wandered to a security checkpoint, saw people searching luggage, and joined in. She's now probably in charge of security.

[vikingchick]

Joe Dabney recently had undergone hip surgery and was being escorted to a restroom

And another thing.....how much assistance are the airline workers expected to give? The guy just had hip surgery....are they supposed to help him onto the toilet? Are they supposed to chase after mentally disoriented passengers?

If I worked there, I'd say, hey....if I had wanted to be an RN, I'd be making $40 bucks an hour, and I wouldn't be working here!

[monday]

"Old people are so feeble and whiny!"

ROTFLMAO!

[Corin Stormhands]

These people should have had a full-time nurse accompanying them.

Anybody know why an elderly couple - one with Alzheimer's and one recovering from hip surgery - had to travel in the first place?

[Deguello]

Hello??

This is the post 9/11 scene. No one is allowed to see these people to their planes nor to meet them at their arrival gates. Where have you been. Have you fully read the Dallas Morning News account of this incident?

This poor, old couple was to be escorted by airline personnel from one gate to the next. The airlines lost the lady when they left her and the DFW airport faulted when they did not begin a search for her until sometime the next day.

Do you wish this upon your Mother or Grandmother?

DFW airport lost her. They are a fully accredited, red-tape organization and they answer to no one.