A Family's Unyielding Fight: Six Years Later, Demanding Accountability for a D.C. Plane Crash

Six years after a tragic incident aboard an American Airlines flight that diverted to Washington D.C., leaving a mother and daughter dead, the grieving family continues their relentless pursuit of justice. What began as a routine journey turned into a nightmare for the families of Marjorie “Midge” Lundy, 72, and her daughter, Lisa Lundy, 45, who perished after a medical emergency forced their flight to land prematurely.

The harrowing events unfolded on November 13, 2018, when American Airlines flight 5916, operated by Envoy Air, was en route from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Pittsburgh.

Mid-flight, the pilot, Captain David Reuter, suffered a medical emergency. The aircraft was diverted to Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington D.C. Tragically, in the chaos that ensued during the diversion and emergency landing, Marjorie and Lisa Lundy, seated near the rear of the plane, suffered fatal cardiac events.

Now, their family has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines and its regional carrier, Envoy Air, alleging gross negligence and seeking accountability for what they believe was a preventable tragedy.

The core of their complaint centers on Captain Reuter's health and the airlines' alleged failure to adequately monitor his fitness to fly. According to the lawsuit, Reuter had a known history of severe heart issues, including a near-fatal heart attack just eight months prior to the incident, and had undergone an extensive cardiac procedure.

Despite these serious health concerns, the lawsuit claims Captain Reuter was cleared to fly.

The family's legal team points to alleged deficiencies in the airlines' medical clearance processes and their failure to ensure the pilot was truly fit for duty. They contend that American Airlines and Envoy Air, in their rush to get pilots back in the cockpit, compromised passenger safety by not adhering to stricter health protocols.

The Lundy family's attorney, Jonathan Schochor, emphasizes that this lawsuit is not merely about financial compensation, but about forcing systemic changes within the aviation industry.

“Our clients want to make sure this never happens again,” Schochor stated, highlighting the family's determination to prevent other passengers from enduring a similar tragedy. They believe that had proper protocols been followed, and the pilot's health been rigorously assessed, Marjorie and Lisa would still be alive.

This ongoing legal battle casts a stark light on the critical importance of pilot health screening and the responsibilities airlines bear for their passengers' safety.

As the Lundy family continues their courageous fight, their story serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact of airline negligence and the enduring quest for justice in the face of unspeakable loss. Their hope is that this legal action will not only bring them a measure of closure but also compel American Airlines and Envoy Air to implement more stringent safety measures, ensuring no other family has to suffer a similar fate due to preventable errors.