DL is losing more than money!

[jetblue320]

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Delta Air Lines lost an 80-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease who was supposed to have been given an escort between flights in the Atlanta airport, his relatives said.

Antonio Ayala disappeared Monday after his flight landed and he was not found until nearly 24 hours later, near a bus station in downtown Atlanta, several miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Police took him to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was undergoing dialysis treatment Wednesday for a kidney ailment and was listed in good condition, officials said.

Family members said Ayala could have gone into a coma without dialysis.

Ayala was flying from New York's LaGuardia airport to El Paso, Texas, and had to change planes in Atlanta.

"He was supposed to be escorted from one plane to another and it never happened," said Ayala's granddaughter, Cecilia Flowers of El Paso, Texas.

Delta officials said the airline is investigating but would not elaborate.

"We are working very closely with the family and we are very pleased the family has been reunited," Delta spokeswoman Peggy Estes said.

The airline flew Ayala's relatives to Atlanta and housed them in a hotel while they waited for him to be released from the hospital.

"He's just glad that I'm here," Ayala's son, Antonio Ayala Jr., said at the hospital. "He told me, 'I've been crying a lot,' but he can't recall what events" happened.

It is not the first time that a person with Alzheimer's has been lost by an airline. In 2001, Margie Dabney, 70, became separated from her husband during an American Airlines stopover at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

 

[a320drivr]

Jee, I wonder why majors are losing ground compared to LCC's.

 

[General Lee]

If your dad was sick with alzheimers, wouldn't you travel with him? You would just let him go by himself? You would really trust other people with him when he could just wander off? Sure, there are unaccompanied minors too--but there are different rules with them. If you really cared about a sick loved one--you would travel with them across country.......And Jetblue likes to give the Gov't info about their pax without them knowing it too---....Enjoy and take care.....

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[canyonblue]

I agree with ya General. "Family members said Ayala could have gone into a coma without dialysis." If my parent was this bad off I would insist on traveling with them. The Airlines are not here to babysit people that can't care for themselves. When you go to a Nursing Home do you expect a plane ride? I doubt the family warned Delta about his condition for fear of a denied boarding. It could of been worse, he could of been traveling in Ted Kennedy's car.

 

[SWA/FO]

It has happened at SWA and AWA... I remember seeing it on the news a few years ago.

 

[jetblue320]

If your dad was sick with alzheimers, wouldn't you travel with him? You would just let him go by himself? You would really trust other people with him when he could just wander off? Sure, there are unaccompanied minors too--but there are different rules with them. If you really cared about a sick loved one--you would travel with them across country.......And Jetblue likes to give the Gov't info about their pax without them knowing it too---quit picking on us for bad publicity....Enjoy!

Bye Bye---General Lee

Lighten up Old Man! I only posted the story because I actually thought it was funny. I know, I know, I am a sick puppy.

Yes, I would not leave my Dad alone in an airport of any size, much less ATL. And, I seem to remember that AWA lost a minor a year ago or so too and that was a biggie. I wasn't picking on you Pal, and we all make mistakes. In fact, there was an article right next to the one I posted on the lost old man that was about privacy issues and how the Fed's are gonna press on with CAPPSII and how DL did not participate and how JB & NW gave away the stuff....oh well. I do hate the press!

Take Care Bud.

 

[Flying Freddie]

The answer is Soylent Green!

 

[G4G5]

I agree with you too.

You can't send a minor/child. You should not be able to send someone in this condition.

My guess is, his son probably looked into FedExing his old man but Delta was cheaper.

 

[jetblue320]

I agree with ya General. "Family members said Ayala could have gone into a coma without dialysis." If my parent was this bad off I would insist on traveling with them. The Airlines are not here to babysit people that can't care for themselves. When you go to a Nursing Home do you expect a plane ride? I doubt the family warned Delta about his condition for fear of a denied boarding. It could of been worse, he could of been traveling in Ted Kennedy's car.

10-4 on that (Kennedy's Car). At least he was safe and secure while he was on the plane! That much I know for sure.

C yaaaa

 

[B6Busdriver]

Lighten up Old Man! I only posted the story because I actually thought it was funny. I know, I know, I am a sick puppy.

Yes, I would not leave my Dad alone in an airport of any size, much less ATL. And, I seem to remember that AWA lost a minor a year ago or so too and that was a biggie. I wasn't picking on you Pal, and we all make mistakes. In fact, there was an article right next to the one I posted on the lost old man that was about privacy issues and how the Fed's are gonna press on with CAPPSII and how DL did not participate and how JB & NW gave away the stuff....oh well. I do hate the press!

Take Care Bud.

 

[jetblue320]

Would it be funny if it was your dad?

Heck no, it wouldn't be. But be real, tell me you have never laughed at the Three Stooges when Moe cracks Curly in the skull with a shovel. C'mon man, gimme a break. The story ended happily in case you didn't read the article. The old man (not The General) was found and reunited with his family. My point was that the press hyped this thing and the sad part is, DL will probably fall pray to some silly lawyer and pay these people money that they don't deserve. Kinda like the lady that burned herself with coffee (because she was clumsy) and then burned McDonalds for millions.

C yaaa

 

[KC-10 Driver]

We had a "meet and assist" passenger on one of my flights today -- an Alzheimer's patient. My first thought was, "How sad". My grandmother had Alzheimer's, and it was a devastating disease -- both for my Grandma and for the whole family.

I can not imagine putting a relative with Alzheimer's on a flight alone -- even with the promised assistance of the company. I simply could not do it.

Perhaps the family of this unfortunate Delta passenger was not aware of the seriousness of his/her condition.

Perhaps the family did not care enough, and simply deceived the Delta agents who checked in the passenger

Or, perhaps the sick passenger was in an unusually lucid state during the flight, which lulled the Delta staff into letting down their guard and losing track of the poor victim.

My Grandmother got lost one day years ago when she was living with my family. It was a terrible day -- one which I will never forget.

Regardless of the potential idiocy of the family members and/or Delta employees who allowed this to happen, it is a very sad and potentially tragic event which bears no humor for me.

Sorry to be the party pooper. Just had to chime in.

 

[FlyComAirJets]

Come to think of it, the first time I went to Atlanta, I ended up 24 hours later in a bus terminal near downtown!

 

[chperplt]

Jee, I wonder why majors are losing ground compared to LCC's.

Come on now.. Everyone has sh!tty customer service. Some not as sh!tty as others, but still sh!tty.

I've only watched three episods of Airline. In each episode Southwest failed to maintain custody of a UM until the parents arrived. In each instance the child either walked away or was never given to a CSA by the FA.

In the 3 shows I've watched out of the 10 or so shows they've run, UMs have gotten lost. I can only imagine what happens at the other stations (only 3 on the show) during a years time.

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

The answer is Soylent Green!

but...

...SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!!!! IST PEOPLE!!! AARRRGGHHH!!!

 

[46Driver]

Just saw this on www.drudgereport.com Not exactly the publicity Delta would like.

 

[crashpad]

I gotta agree with GL, only because we're talking about a mental illness. You don't throw schitzophrenics on the plane and expect the airline to take responsibility. The UM case does'nt hold water because they're mentally competent.

I too have witnessed alzeimers pax and my first thought is; 'why is'nt a family member with them!' There is no excuse or reasonable arguement for this situation and I'm certain all airlines will now change their policies.

Incidentally, I escorted an alzheimers woman last year and she said she'd never forget me......best compliment I ever had.

 

[sleepy]

Wait a minute. DAL is saying that they were not given any information about the passengers condition, and that the family did not sign him up for special handling.

The family likely did this on purpose hoping to get rid of the old guy, or to set DAL up for legal action.

AA transported a woman with this disease last year. Her husband lost her in the DFW airport (not AA, but her husband lost her). She was never found (where could she have gone?). AA still has to pay the husband even though they did nothing but transport her to DFW.

 

[Ty Webb]

Originally posted by a320drivr
Jeez, I wonder why majors are losing ground compared to LCC's.

That's right! We wouldn't have lost him, we'd probably have just put him to work . . . . . . the family would've just non-revved in to pick him up. . . . . . pretty simple, if you ask me.

 

[737 Pylt]

Lighten up Old Man! I only posted the story because I actually thought it was funny. I know, I know, I am a sick puppy.

Then why the sarcasm in the post with the title "Delta loses more than money??"