New video footage has surfaced of passengers desperately trying to save the life of a man who died of COVID-19 on a United Airlines flight last week as they reveal that nine days after the ordeal, they are not yet to be contacted by health officials.
Isaias Hernandez, 69, died of coronavirus and acute respiratory failure on Dec. 14 while traveling from Orlando on UA Flight 591 to LA, a coroner confirmed Tuesday.
Hernandez, who was from Los Angeles, suffered cardiac arrest mid-flight and died in a Louisiana hospital after the plane crash-landed in New Orleans.
A new video of the incident shared Wednesday shows that fellow passengers are at risk of contracting the virus themselves while desperately performing CPR on Hernandez for about 45 minutes.
Passenger Steven Chang, who was one of three CPR trained professionals on board, was filmed giving chest compressions to the man while lying in plain view of other concerned travelers in the aisle of the Boeing 737-900.
According to TMZ, Chang has developed symptoms since the flight, but has been tested negative for the virus.
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Video footage shared Wednesday shows passenger Steven Chang performing CPR on Isaias Hernandez, 69, who died of COVID-19 on a United flight from Orlando to Los Angeles on Dec. 14
Chang was one of three passengers on board who had been trained in CPR who tried to save Hernandez’s life by acting
It comes after another passenger, Tony Aldapa, an EMT who also helped perform the life-saving procedure on Hernandez, revealed that he also started showing symptoms of COVID-19.
But none of the men – nor any of the other passengers in the area – has since been approached by the CDC, despite the health authority saying they would work with local health officials to reach out to those who may be at risk for potential exposure or infection.
Tony Aldapa was filmed desperately performing CPR for 45 minutes on a fellow passenger who fell unconscious on the United flight last week. He says he has had symptoms since the flight
United Airlines said it is not responsible for seeking health advice and confirmed to A that it had already given the names of all 179 passengers to the CDC.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, the CDC said it has sent passengers’ contact information to state and local health departments where they live for public health follow-up and contact tracking.
A spokesperson also referred to the CDC’s website about the process, explaining how these agencies then ‘try to locate these passengers and inform them of their exposure and what to do.
But why those agencies have not yet contacted passengers is unclear.
United Airlines has also faced backlash from passengers who wondered how Hernandez was allowed on board after showing symptoms of the virus.
Some said Hernandez’s wife was also overheard during the flight, saying he had lost his sense of taste and smell.
TMZ reports that a spokesperson told the outlet that they were not medical professionals and that it is up to the CDC to contact those who may have been exposed.
Aldapa told CBS he feels like he was “hit by a train” after developing symptoms.
Aldapa was one of three passengers who helped perform CPR on the 69-year-old man during the flight. They can be seen above in another video of the incident
Aldapa, a US Navy veteran, said the man’s wife later told him that her husband was suffering from COVID-19 symptoms before boarding.
“I had a cough, my whole body still hurts, I had a headache,” he told the news channel on Tuesday.
He was due to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, as he is an essential health worker, but is now in quarantine waiting for the results of his coronavirus test.
Aldapa, a US Navy veteran, said the man’s wife later told him that her husband was suffering from COVID-19 symptoms before boarding.
“She told me he had symptoms, he was short of breath and she just wanted to take him home and they planned to get tested this week,” Aldapa said.
Aldapa said he did not use word of mouth while providing CPR.
Before boarding a flight, passengers will be asked if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms.
United has since said that the man recognized United’s “ ready to fly ” pandemic checklist before boarding.
Aldapa said he knew the risks when he started CPR, but his training started and he would do it again if necessary.
‘It was just second nature to see someone in a bad place, you try to get them out of the bad place,’ Aldapa said.
“ The three of us were essentially doing chest compressions, probably about 45 minutes. ”
Aldapa, as well as another EMT and an IC nurse, helped deliver the man on the flight.
Footage filmed by fellow passengers showed the trio giving the man chest compressions in the aisle after he stopped breathing about an hour after the flight.
Passengers say the man was seen on the plane shaking and sweating and had difficulty breathing even before the flight took off.
Once the plane landed, doctors from the New Orleans Fire Department boarded the flight and the man was rushed to a nearby hospital.
The flight continued to Los Angeles shortly afterwards.
Aldapa said United contacted him a few days ago to say they had provided the CDC with information about passengers on the flight.
United said they had been asked by the CDC to provide a list of passengers so the agency could work with local health officials to track contacts.
“We will share the requested information with the (CDC) so that they can work with local health officials to contact any customer the CDC believes is at risk of potential exposure or infection,” United said in a statement.
Aldapa said the CDC still has not contacted him regarding contact tracking, despite the coroner’s office revealing that the man’s cause of death was linked to COVID-19.
In a statement, the CDC said they were in the process of gathering information and following our standard operating procedures to determine if further public health measures are appropriate.
“To protect the privacy of the individual, we do not disclose this information to the public.”
Other passengers on board the flight have also said the CDC has not yet contacted them.