Relatives Say Woman Was Denied O2, Equipment Malfunctioned

An American Airlines passenger died onboard a flight from Haiti last Friday, after being denied access to oxygen twice... and then finding the plane's onboard O2 tanks were empty, according to one of the woman's relatives.

The Associated Press reports Carine Desir started to experience trouble breathing after she ate a meal om the flight to New York. Her cousin, Antonio Oliver, says Desir asked a flight attendant for oxygen twice -- and each time, was rebuked.

"Don't let me die," Oliver recalled Desir saying.

Eventually, according to Oliver, cabin personnel relented and tried to administer O2 to Desir -- but found two oxygen tanks were empty. Oliver says the crew also tried using a "box" -- likely a defibrillator -- to revive Desir, but the equipment seemed to malfunction.

Oliver say he asked for the plane to "land right away so I can get her to a hospital." The pilot agreed to divert to Miami, 45 minutes away. A nurse onboard the flight also tried CPR... but Desir passed away before the plane landed.

"Her last words were, 'I cannot breathe,"' Oliver said. The flight continued on to JFK International.

A medical examiner ruled this weekend Desir died of natural causes. She had prior history of heart disease, according to media reports.

A spokeswoman for American said the matter was under investigation, but wouldn't comment Sunday on Oliver's claims of faulty medical equipment on the plane.

FMI: www.aa.com