A nurse who sustained severe burns during a Ryanair flight has received a £4,350 out-of-court settlement, which she described as unexpected. Denise Elliott, 63, was on a trip to Majorca from Bournemouth when she was given a coffee cup without a lid, as the steward claimed they had run out.
According to Denise, from Southsea, she placed the cup on the tray table, which she criticized as unsuitable. Lawyers have noticed an increase in vacationers experiencing similar injuries due to angled tray tables on planes.
Denise stated, “Ryanair accused me of lying about the lid issue, but that’s false as others heard him admit it. The next thing I knew, the hot coffee spilled on my thighs. The flimsy trays on Ryanair flights are clearly inadequate, and the cup grooves are more of a hazard than a help.”
The holiday was disrupted before reaching Spain, as Denise had to administer first aid to herself due to the lack of proper assistance from the staff on board.
Denise’s claim for flight injury, under the Montreal Convention, was handled by Hudgell Solicitors, who secured the settlement just before the trial, despite Ryanair initially denying responsibility.
Denise expressed her frustration with Ryanair’s lack of urgency and praised Hudgell Solicitors for their support. She emphasized the importance of persisting in such situations and highlighted the need for airlines to address safety concerns promptly.
Tracy Stansfield, senior associate solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors, highlighted the common occurrence of in-flight burns caused by tray table design and called for airlines to take immediate action.
Ryanair has been contacted by The Mirror for further comments.