Southwest Airlines decided to take the path of denial when it comes to a woman’s family claiming they are the reason behind her becoming paralyzed.
Southwest Airlines claims that a disabled Florida woman who was paralyzed, after a jet bridge fall refused assistance before the accident, an allegation her family deems as ludicrous.
“It makes no sense,” Gaby Assouline’s mother, Sandra said. “We requested assistance from them, we assumed they would help her. It’s just ludicrous.”
Assouline, 24, who suffers from a muscular disorder that limits her mobility, was traveling from South Florida to visit her sister in Denver in February.
Her mother said she formally requested the use of a wheelchair and staff help at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
“She spent so much time planning this out,” Sandra said. “I got a buddy pass and was with her the whole time until we got to the gate.”
Assouline claims in a lawsuit against Southwest, that no one helped her navigate the jet bridge to her plane, and that she hit an elevated bump before tumbling out of her wheelchair to the floor.
She fell on her head, cracked a vertebra and is now paralyzed from the neck down.
Her attorney, Robert Solomon said that Southwest has countered in court arguments that Assouline refused any help in negotiating the corridor, a claim he blasted as illogical.
Solomon said Assouline had sought and received staff help from the time she arrived at the airport to her arrival at the departure gate.
“She has communicated to us that she never refused help,” Solomon said.
Southwest said its top priority was the safety of its “People and Customers both on the ground and in the air.”
“We have reviewed the Customer’s initial account of her travel experience and have offered a response directly to those involved,” the company said. “Southwest will continue to work with the Customer and other involved parties to investigate and address the facts and circumstances relating to her travel experience.”
Assouline has been hospitalized for more than four months and is unable to speak, only communicating with doctors and family by mouthing words.
“She tells me that she just wants to wake up from this nightmare,” her mother said. “You can see it in her eyes. It’s just heartbreaking.”
Solomon noted that there have been prior lawsuits related to jet bridge mishaps and that it was inconceivable that Southwest workers would not guide Assouline down the passage in her wheelchair.
In 2019, a trove of maintenance and accident reports related to jet bridge hazards at airports across the county, were reported on. Most involved tripping incidents over bumps and protrusions that resulted in a range of injuries.
Assouline’s family said doctors doubt that Gaby will regain function below her neck and that they are scrambling to outfit their home to properly care for her after she leaves the hospital.
This seems to convenient and made up. We all know flying sucks but do we have to blame the airlines for everything? Take some personal responsibility!!!