The family of Hunter Adkins, a 24-year-old man with muscular dystrophy, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Allegiant Air, alleging the airline’s failure to follow safety protocols led to his tragic death.
Adkins died hours after he was thrown from an unsecured wheelchair while attempting to board a flight at Huntington Tri-State Airport in West Virginia on March 28, 2024.
The Incident
According to the lawsuit, Adkins was traveling with his father and 9-year-old brother when the flight crew was reportedly rushed by the captain to get passengers onboard. The staff, in a hurry, allegedly failed to provide the necessary assistance for Adkins, who required a special narrow aisle wheelchair to board the plane safely.
The lawsuit claims that instead of following federal safety regulations and providing two attendants to assist him, Adkins was only given one attendant after other staff were reassigned to load luggage.
The result was that Adkins’s motorized wheelchair toppled over as an attendant attempted to wheel him through the plane’s entry door.
Adkins was physically unable to stop his fall and landed face-first on the ground with his wheelchair crashing on top of him, in front of his father and brother. He was later rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to blunt force trauma 15 hours later.
Alleged Negligence by Allegiant Air
The wrongful death suit alleges that Allegiant Air violated federal regulations by not providing the required assistance and special equipment for Adkins.
Specifically, the airline failed to provide the federally mandated aisle wheelchair with safety straps, which is designed to safely move disabled passengers in and out of the aircraft.
The lawsuit also claims that, even though crew members could see the improper handling of Adkins as he was boarded, they did nothing to intervene and ensure his safety.
Family’s Legal Action
The Adkins family is seeking a jury trial and damages in excess of $15,000, according to the filing in the Las Vegas Review Journal. The lawsuit emphasizes the heartache caused by the incident and calls attention to the disregard for passenger safety.
Allegiant Air’s Response
In response to the lawsuit, an Allegiant Air spokesperson issued a statement expressing sympathy for the family but declined to comment on the pending litigation.
“While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking situation,” the spokesperson said.
