07 November 2023 , 09:33
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One furious mum is suing American Airlines after she says her two children were abandoned in a cell alone for a whole night without food or water.
Florida woman Amber Vencill, had sent her 10 and 12-year-old sons to take a flight from Missouri, with a layover in Charlotte, to New York, where Vencill’s partner would pick them up. Their mother had signed them up to use American Airlines' unaccompanied minor service on July 30, 2022. Their planned flight was delayed and then later cancelled.
American Airlines called Amber Vencill’s partner, identified as Ted, and informed him that they could house the two pre-teens in a “'nice room for unaccompanied minors where there were beds and their own bathroom.”
The boys, named as “JV” and “RV,” were then left in a “jail-like” room overnight, by themselves without food, water, pillows or blankets, according to Amber.
The mother claimed the airline lost her two children (AFP via Getty Images)After Ted was made aware of the plans the airline emailed Vencill at 11.40pm. on July 30, making her aware of the change of plans, and that her kids would fly at 5om the next day instead, according to Insider.
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The mother alleged that this left her with “no idea what flight her children would be on.” She tried to get in touch with her kids via a number provided by American Airlines but it was of no use. After hours of futile attempts to find her kids, a “kind” employee at Charlotte's Douglas International Airport connected her to one of her sons.
It was at this point her son made her aware of what had truly happened. He alleged that he and his brother “had not had anything to eat or drink since the night before, not even a pretzel or snacks that are usually given out by the airline.” The kind employee managed to get her sons some food and water at this point.
David Jaroslawicz, Vencill's attorney, said: “The worst part was they were in an airport, they could have been taken anywhere. They were in an airport with all sorts of nuts around.” The room was described as “akin to a jail cell” that was “freezing” and had full lights on, with a sofa the only place to sleep.
According to the lawsuit Vencill was refunded $150 in a fee for the unaccompanied minors' expenses. The lawsuit alleged the children are now nervous to fly after describing American Airlines’ behaviour as “reckless, careless, and negligent.”
The lawsuit adds: “Particularly offensive is that after learning of their clear failures, defendant merely offered a hollow apology and a refund, in essence telling plaintiff, sorry we lost your kids lady but here is your money back.”
The suit is seeking an undisclosed amount for damages.
The Mirror has approached American Airlines for comment.