It is very easy to critise the crew after the event and take the side of the plaintiffs which in essence appears to be “If only the plane had diverted then this lady would have lived”. A rough look at the facts suggests if they took a direct route, the aircraft was in the vicinity of Abilene, some 300 miles from Dallas, possibly 20 minutes closer to the destination when the decision to continue was made. Abilene has a population of 120,000 and presumably a medical care system appropriate for a city of that size. The doctor onboard is unlikely to have known where they were. Therefore they would have been unaware of the time it would take to reach any alternate or the level of support that could be offered once on the ground. It is quite possible that a more southerly route over Mexico could also have been flown. We do not know how the doctor on onboard was qualified. We also do not know what conversations took place between the aircraft and medical advice centre on the ground. We also do not know what part if any, the locked cockpit door policy played in the death. Then the big question, assuming the aircraft landed possibly 20 minutes earlier, would this lady have had a better outcome? So providing at least all of these items are discussed in court, justice will not be served.
PM