It started with a moment of confusion that most people might have brushed off. On the tarmac in Miami, as passengers prepared for a transatlantic flight, Marcela Tavantzis noticed her husband, Jesus Plasencia, suddenly speaking gibberish. His words slurred, his body seemed to falter, and for a brief spell, he lost motor control. Alarmed, she alerted the flight crew.
Her instincts were right. What seemed like a passing lapse was actually a warning sign of a stroke—what doctors call a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Hours later, midair over the Atlantic, Plasencia suffered a massive stroke that left him permanently paralyzed.
The missed warning signs
According to the complaint filed in court, the first incident happened while the plane was still at the gate at Miami International Airport on November 8, 2021. Flight attendants saw Plasencia rebound and appear unaware that anything had happened, but despite Tavantzis’ repeated concern that her husband had just suffered a stroke, the pilot cleared the passengers for departure.
Court documents say the crew failed to follow company policy, which required them to contact the airline’s medical response team or check for medically trained passengers onboard. Instead, the plane departed for Madrid.
While flying over the Atlantic, Plasencia suffered a left-MCA stroke. His condition deteriorated quickly. According to his lawyers, crew members initially asked other passengers to “watch him” rather than immediately notifying the pilot. When the flight finally landed in Spain, Plasencia was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, spending more than three weeks there before returning to the U.S. by air ambulance.
Today, nearly two years later, the former chef from Watsonville, California, lives with devastating consequences. The complaint described his condition starkly:
“Today—nearly two years after the flight—Plasencia can neither speak, write, nor communicate effectively, much less walk, feed, bathe himself, clothe himself, or use the toilet without assistance. Plasencia depends entirely on daily, significant, around-the-clock, in-home care and intensive rehabilitation.”
His wife Marcela, now his legal guardian, continues to care for him full-time.
The court’s decision
On September 17, 2025, after a six-day trial, a federal jury in San Jose, California, found American Airlines negligent and awarded $9.6 million in damages to Plasencia and Tavantzis.
“Mr. Plasencia didn’t get treatment in a timely manner and that is why he is in the condition that he’s in,” said Darren Nicholson of Burns Charest LLP, lead counsel for the family, in an interview with PEOPLE. “The circumstances of the case are really sad, but we’re hopeful, and I know the family is hopeful that this will help raise awareness on stroke symptoms.”
Nicholson pointed to the American Stroke Association’s “Act F.A.S.T.” campaign, which helps the public recognize the key signs of stroke: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call emergency services.
Hannah Crowe, another attorney for the family, told PEOPLE the verdict will be “life changing.” She added: “Ms. Tavantzis wants to buy a used van so that she can fit her husband’s wheelchair. They want to do some home improvements to make their house more accessible for Mr. Plasencia… They’ll now be able to live the life of dignity that they deserve.”
In a statement to PEOPLE, American Airlines said: “While we respect the jury’s decision, we disagree with the verdict and are currently evaluating next steps. The safety and well-being of our passengers is our highest priority.”
What is a TIA?
According to the Mayo Clinic, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is often called a “mini-stroke.” It occurs when blood flow to the brain is briefly blocked, causing stroke-like symptoms that last only minutes and don’t cause permanent damage. But the warning should never be ignored. Roughly one in three people who experience a TIA will go on to suffer a full stroke, with about half of those occurring within a year.
Symptoms can appear suddenly and may include weakness or numbness on one side of the body, slurred speech, vision problems, dizziness, or loss of coordination. Though brief, these moments are medical emergencies.
Her instincts were right. What seemed like a passing lapse was actually a warning sign of a stroke—what doctors call a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Hours later, midair over the Atlantic, Plasencia suffered a massive stroke that left him permanently paralyzed.
The missed warning signs
According to the complaint filed in court, the first incident happened while the plane was still at the gate at Miami International Airport on November 8, 2021. Flight attendants saw Plasencia rebound and appear unaware that anything had happened, but despite Tavantzis’ repeated concern that her husband had just suffered a stroke, the pilot cleared the passengers for departure.
Court documents say the crew failed to follow company policy, which required them to contact the airline’s medical response team or check for medically trained passengers onboard. Instead, the plane departed for Madrid. While flying over the Atlantic, Plasencia suffered a left-MCA stroke. His condition deteriorated quickly. According to his lawyers, crew members initially asked other passengers to “watch him” rather than immediately notifying the pilot. When the flight finally landed in Spain, Plasencia was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, spending more than three weeks there before returning to the U.S. by air ambulance.
Today, nearly two years later, the former chef from Watsonville, California, lives with devastating consequences. The complaint described his condition starkly:
“Today—nearly two years after the flight—Plasencia can neither speak, write, nor communicate effectively, much less walk, feed, bathe himself, clothe himself, or use the toilet without assistance. Plasencia depends entirely on daily, significant, around-the-clock, in-home care and intensive rehabilitation.”
His wife Marcela, now his legal guardian, continues to care for him full-time.
The court’s decision
On September 17, 2025, after a six-day trial, a federal jury in San Jose, California, found American Airlines negligent and awarded $9.6 million in damages to Plasencia and Tavantzis.
“Mr. Plasencia didn’t get treatment in a timely manner and that is why he is in the condition that he’s in,” said Darren Nicholson of Burns Charest LLP, lead counsel for the family, in an interview with PEOPLE. “The circumstances of the case are really sad, but we’re hopeful, and I know the family is hopeful that this will help raise awareness on stroke symptoms.”
Nicholson pointed to the American Stroke Association’s “Act F.A.S.T.” campaign, which helps the public recognize the key signs of stroke: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call emergency services.
Hannah Crowe, another attorney for the family, told PEOPLE the verdict will be “life changing.” She added: “Ms. Tavantzis wants to buy a used van so that she can fit her husband’s wheelchair. They want to do some home improvements to make their house more accessible for Mr. Plasencia… They’ll now be able to live the life of dignity that they deserve.”
In a statement to PEOPLE, American Airlines said: “While we respect the jury’s decision, we disagree with the verdict and are currently evaluating next steps. The safety and well-being of our passengers is our highest priority.”
What is a TIA?
According to the Mayo Clinic, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is often called a “mini-stroke.” It occurs when blood flow to the brain is briefly blocked, causing stroke-like symptoms that last only minutes and don’t cause permanent damage. But the warning should never be ignored. Roughly one in three people who experience a TIA will go on to suffer a full stroke, with about half of those occurring within a year.
Symptoms can appear suddenly and may include weakness or numbness on one side of the body, slurred speech, vision problems, dizziness, or loss of coordination. Though brief, these moments are medical emergencies.
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