A nurse who sustained severe burns on a Ryanair flight has received a £4,350 out-of-court settlement, describing it as a surprising outcome. Denise Elliott, aged 63, was traveling to Majorca from Bournemouth with friends when she was given a coffee cup without a lid, as the steward claimed they had run out.
Denise, from Southsea, criticized the tray table as inadequate when she placed the cup on it. She mentioned a rise in holidaymakers experiencing similar injuries due to the slanted tray tables on planes.
Despite Ryanair disputing her claim of lid unavailability, Denise asserted that others heard the steward admit it. The coffee spilled on her thighs without her knocking it over, blaming the flimsy trays and cup grooves for the incident.
Immediately attending to her burns, Denise was disappointed by the staff’s lack of appropriate first aid supplies. She highlighted the challenges she faced in obtaining proper care on the flight.
Her claim, filed under the Montreal Convention, was handled by Hudgell Solicitors, who negotiated the settlement after Ryanair initially denied liability.
Expressing dissatisfaction with Ryanair’s response, Denise emphasized the importance of seeking justice. She also raised concerns about the airline’s safety protocols and lack of urgency in addressing passenger incidents.
Tracy Stansfield, a senior associate solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors, emphasized the need for airlines to address safety issues promptly to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Ryanair has been contacted by The Mirror for further comments on the matter.
