A nurse who sustained severe burns while on a Ryanair flight has been granted a £4,350 out-of-court settlement, which she described as unexpected. Denise Elliott, aged 63, was traveling to Majorca from Bournemouth with friends when she was handed a coffee cup without a lid, as the flight attendant mentioned they had run out.
Denise, a resident of Southsea near Portsmouth, placed the cup on the tray table, criticizing it as unsuitable for its purpose. Holidaymakers have been experiencing similar injuries due to the inclined tray tables on airplanes, according to reports.
Expressing her experience, Denise stated, “Ryanair claimed I was dishonest about the lack of lids, but it was witnessed by others. The coffee spilled on my thighs without my interference. The flimsy trays on Ryanair flights are clearly inadequate, and the cup grooves are more hazardous than helpful.”
Her vacation was marred even before arriving in sunny Spain, as Denise alleges she had to administer first aid to herself and criticized the response from the staff in treating her burns.
Denise took legal action under the Montreal Convention, governing international air travel, with Hudgell Solicitors handling her case. Despite Ryanair denying responsibility initially, they agreed to the settlement just before the trial.
Denise expressed her dissatisfaction with Ryanair’s lack of urgency, prompting her to pursue the claim. She commended Hudgell Solicitors for their assistance but remains skeptical of any future changes by Ryanair.
Tracy Stansfield, a senior associate solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors, mentioned, “It’s challenging to challenge a well-known entity like Ryanair, but accountability should apply to all, including corporate giants.”
The Mirror has contacted Ryanair for further comments.