Man Blames Delta for Blood Clot That Nearly Cost Him His Life

A Delta flyer claims the airline is responsible for his blood clot because the flight crew allegedly would not allow him to stretch during an emergency landing.

An Atlanta man has filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines, alleging the legacy carrier is at fault for his development of a blood clot he claims nearly cost him his life. CBS affiliate WGCL reports Jorge Pajares was en route from Peru to Atlanta on what should have been a 6-hour flight when a fellow passenger became ill.

The aircraft made an emergency landing in Ecuador so the sick passenger could receive treatment. During the time on the ground, Pajares claims that flight attendants would not let him get out of his seat and stretch, even when he told them that his legs were swelling and numb.

“[The flight attendant] said ‘Sir, please, I already told you go back to your seat, I already told you to clear the aisle. You shouldn’t be stretching your legs,’” Pajares told WGCL-TV.

According to ABC affiliate WSB, within days of landing in Atlanta, Pajares claims he began coughing up blood. Pajares said that was when he went to see his doctor, who then sent him to the hospital. Pajares told WSB that doctors found a blood clot in his lungs, which they said he probably developed during the 12-hour flight. The blood clot left Pajares in the hospital for 10 days and he now has to take blood thinners for the rest of his life.

Jonathan Johnson, attorney for Pajares, told WSB that they are suing Delta for damages resulting from the blood clot. Johnson claims the damages resulted from a combination of not being able to stretch and the narrow pitch between seats.

An unidentified Delta representative told WGCL that the incident is being looked into but the airline does not comment on pending litigation.

[Photo: WGCL]