A nurse involved in a severe incident on a Ryanair flight that resulted in burns has recently been granted a £4,350 settlement out of court, which she described as unexpected. Denise Elliott, 63, was traveling with friends to Majorca from Bournemouth when she was handed a coffee cup without a lid by a flight attendant due to a reported shortage.
Denise, residing near Portsmouth, criticized the tray table’s design as inadequate after placing the cup on it. She mentioned a rise in similar injuries among holidaymakers caused by slanted tray tables on airplanes.
The incident occurred as Denise claimed that Ryanair disputed her account of the lid shortage, despite other passengers overhearing the flight attendant’s statement. She expressed disappointment with the plane’s flimsy tray tables, highlighting their unsuitability. She further criticized the onboard staff’s response to her injuries, stating she had to administer self-first aid.
Denise’s claim under the Montreal Convention, which regulates global air travel, was handled by Hudgell Solicitors, who negotiated the £4,350 settlement after Ryanair initially denied responsibility. Denise emphasized her dissatisfaction with Ryanair’s handling of the situation and praised Hudgell Solicitors for their support.
Tracy Stansfield, a senior associate solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors, emphasized the importance of accountability for airlines like Ryanair in addressing incidents like Denise’s. She highlighted a concerning trend of in-flight burns due to tray table design flaws and urged airlines to address these issues promptly.
Ryanair has been contacted for further comments on the matter.