From reports filed by its crew members, American Airlines pieced together this account of what happened Friday on Flight 896: Ms. Desir was having trouble breathing when a man who identified himself as her cousin told a flight attendant that Ms. Desir had diabetes and that he thought she needed oxygen. The flight attendant told the cousin that the airline doesn't normally administer oxygen for diabetes, and that she would need to check with another crew member, according to the airline's account.
The two crew members discussed the matter for about two minutes, then the attendants approached Ms. Desir, while also soliciting help from medical professionals on board, including at least one doctor, American Airlines said. The professionals took the lead in administering oxygen to Ms. Desir and using the defibrillator to monitor her heart, while flight attendants assisted as needed, the airline said....
There are different classifications for types of oxygen used in flight. The oxygen that passengers receive from masks that drop down from the ceiling is intended for emergency descents. There are also first-aid oxygen bottles, such as the kind requested on the American flight Friday, and oxygen supplied for pilots and flight attendants. Federal regulations require airlines to provide all of these.
Airlines aren't required to have a fourth type of oxygen, known as "medical oxygen," which is oxygen that passengers with disabilities use in nonemergency situations. Airlines can choose to offer this type of oxygen, though many don't. Those that do provide it at a cost to passengers. A currently proposed Department of Transportation rule would require airlines to provide in-flight medical oxygen without charge.
