On social media, the case of Xóchitl Zenteno Licona has begun to go viral. She is a student at the College of Customs Traffic and Specialties who decided to sue the Aeronautical University of Querétaro (UNAQ) after suffering a severe spinal injury during a practice at the institution. A video that has been widely shared on different platforms shows the moment when the young woman, originally from the state of Hidalgo, suffered an accident while performing an exercise on an evacuation slide.
The incident occurred on September 8, 2023, when Xóchitl was participating in a training session that involved descending an inflatable designed to simulate an emergency evacuation. While another student was able to descend without issues, when it was Xóchitl's turn, the inflatable deflated, causing her to fall to the ground. Due to the impact, the young woman suffered fractures in her spine, which required emergency surgery where eight titanium screws were placed.
In response to the controversy, UNAQ issued an official statement on March 14, assuring that they activated their emergency protocol immediately after the accident. The university claimed they provided medical attention to Xóchitl and covered all expenses related to her hospitalization and rehabilitation treatment at Star Médica hospital. Furthermore, academic and job alternatives were offered to support the student.
The video, which quickly spread on social media, has caused an outpouring of outrage among users, who express their support for the student and question the safety of practices at UNAQ. Xóchitl decided to initiate legal proceedings against the institution to seek compensation for the damages suffered.
