"Brother Reveals Cause of Death for Mom Who Died Mid-Flight from Dominican Republic"

An Indiana mother, Stefanie Smith, died of natural causes, specifically a carotid artery dissection, while on an American Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. Her brother confirmed the cause of death and stated that the autopsy results do not suggest foul play. Carotid artery dissections can occur suddenly without a known cause, and various activities or medical conditions can increase the risk of this condition.