HOUSTON, TX – The family of a 75-year-old man has filed a federal lawsuit against Spirit Airlines, alleging the carrier’s failure to provide promised assistance led to his tragic death outside George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
A Promised Escort Never Materialized
Marcos Humberto Vindel Osorio, who suffered from mild dementia, arrived in Houston from Honduras on June 8, 2024. According to court documents filed on April 22, the family had specifically requested and received confirmation for airport assistance at his departure.
However, the lawsuit alleges that upon landing at 6:49 p.m., Osorio was allowed to deboard and walk through the international terminal alone, without any supervision or the promised escort.
The Tragic Discovery
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Osorio was processed unaccompanied at 7:43 p.m. After a frantic search by his family, Osorio was found dead at 11:15 p.m. on a roadway approximately eight minutes away by car—a distance estimated to be a two-hour walk for a disoriented elderly person.
He had been struck by multiple vehicles. The lawsuit argues that Spirit’s failure to provide the promised care constitutes an “accident” under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing airline liability.
Legal Claims and Seeking Justice
The family is seeking compensatory damages for:
- Wrongful death and mental anguish.
- Loss of companionship and parental guidance.
- Funeral and burial expenses.
The filing argues that an airline failing to honor a specific commitment to a vulnerable passenger is “neither normal nor expected conduct.” If the Montreal Convention is found not to apply, the family has alternatively accused the airline of gross negligence.
Spirit Airlines Operations Cease
The lawsuit comes at a turbulent time for the carrier. Just days after the filing, Spirit Airlines announced it was ceasing all operations effective immediately after 33 years, following a failed $500 million government bailout.
A trial by jury has been requested by the Osorio family to determine the airline’s liability in this case.
