United Airlines is slammed for giving 'meager' $200 vouchers to passengers who risked their lives giving CPR to man, 69, who died of virus mid-flight
United Airlines passengers who risked their lives by giving CPR to a 69-year-old man who collapsed mid-flight and died of COVID-19 were given measly $200 gift voucher as a 'thank you' from the airline.
Tony Aldapa and Steven Chang were compensated after the EMTs spent more than 45 minutes giving first aid to Isaias Hernandez, who had coronavirus. Hernandez had collapsed mid-flight after suffering acute respiratory failure while traveling from Orlando to Los Angeles on December 14.
Hernandez died in a Louisiana hospital after the plane made an emergency landing in New Orleans.
Aldapa has since received a phone call from an airline representative who let him know he'd be receiving the $200 voucher by email, he told TMZ. He added that the rep did not mention the man who died from COVID-19 in the call.
When reached by DailyMail.com, Aldapa said 'it was a crazy experience. But I have no comment on the voucher situation.'
Tony Aldapa and Steven Chang and an ICU nurse performed CPR on Isaias Hernandez, who had coronavirus
United Airlines thanked the EMTs for giving aid to the man with a $200 flight voucher and a phone call
Tony Aldapa said it took authorities 10 days to notify him of exposure to COVID
'We apologize for the inconvenience you experienced on your recent trip,' the email simply reads, according to the outlet.
After giving Hernandez CPR, Adalpa later experienced symptoms and was tested for the virus.
'Essentially I just feel like I got hit by a train,' he said. 'I had a cough, my whole body still hurts, I had a headache,' Aldapa previously told CBS.
Chang, who also helped give the man chest compressions, also got the call and $200 voucher – which his wife, who was also on the flight, did not receive, TMZ reported.
Megan Hubbard and Cameron Roberts, two other passengers who were near Hernandez on the flight, did not get vouchers.
The measly vouchers come after United said it was not responsible for notifying passengers of exposure
Electronic travel certificates can be used to book travel or select Economy Plus seating on United flights within two years of being issued, according to the company's website.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Chang and United Airlines for additional comment.
Twitter users have since slammed the airline for such a 'cheap' paltry sum.
'Giving him $200 for risking his life is pretty insulting,' one person commented.
Another said: 'How about added some zero’s to that big 200 bucks.'
'Just $200 he contracted covid and could of died himself. He deserves way more for risking his life to help another during a pandemic,' a third person said.
The meager vouchers come after it was revealed that United Airlines claimed it was not responsible of notifying all 179 passengers that a man on-board later died had COVID-19.
A spokesperson said the airline had already given the names of passengers to the CDC.
TMZ reported that a spokesperson told the outlet they weren't medical professionals and it is up to the CDC to contact those who may have been exposed.
Adalpa told the outlet it took 10 days to finally hear from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health that he had been exposed to the virus on the flight.
Passengers are asked before boarding a flight whether they have tested positive for COVID-19 or are suffering any symptoms.
United has since said Hernandez acknowledged United's 'ready to fly'' pandemic health checklist prior to boarding.
A third ICU nurse also helped provide Hernandez with first aid.