A nurse, Denise Elliott, aged 63, suffered severe burns on a Ryanair flight to Majorca from Bournemouth and has now received a £4,350 out-of-court settlement, describing the incident as “an absolute shocker.” The incident occurred when she was given a coffee cup without a lid, which she placed on a tray table she deemed unfit for purpose. This incident reflects a growing trend of injuries caused by sloping tray tables on planes.
Denise stated that Ryanair accused her of lying about the lack of lids, but other passengers heard the steward confirm the shortage. She expressed disappointment in the inadequate first aid response from the airline staff and had to administer first aid to herself after the spill. Despite her knowledge of first aid, Denise criticized the lack of proper supplies on the plane to treat her burns effectively.
Claiming under the Montreal Convention, which regulates international air travel, Denise’s case was handled by Hudgell Solicitors, leading to the out-of-court settlement with Ryanair, who initially denied liability. Denise emphasized that her aim was not financial compensation but rather a prompt and appropriate response from the airline, which she felt was lacking. Tracy Stansfield, from Hudgell Solicitors, highlighted the need for airlines to address issues like sloping tray tables to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Ryanair has been contacted by The Mirror for further comments on the incident.