MICHIGAN- American Airlines (AA) faces a lawsuit from passenger Gina Mason, who claims she suffered severe burns during a flight due to a coffee spill caused by turbulence. The incident occurred on February 11 as Mason was returning to Detroit (DTW) from Baltimore (BWI).
According to the legal complaint filed on August 13 in Wayne County, Michigan Circuit Court, the captain warned passengers about upcoming turbulence and instructed them to take their seats.
American Airlines Sued by Woman
Flight attendants were distributing refreshments at the time and parked a beverage cart next to Mason in seat 29A before securing themselves.
The turbulence reportedly caused the cart to shake, resulting in a pot of hot coffee falling onto Mason’s lap. The 68-year-old passenger allegedly sustained first and second-degree burns on her legs, thighs, and genital area.
The lawsuit, which has been moved to Detroit federal court, details the sequence of events leading to Mason’s injuries.
Mason’s lawsuit against American Airlines alleges negligence in securing beverage carts during turbulence and failure to remove hot coffee pots from carts in rough air. The complaint cites physical injuries, anxiety, and depression resulting from the incident.
The lawsuit seeks damages for various consequences, including physical pain, disability, diminished quality of life, scarring, emotional distress, and embarrassment. Mason also requests reimbursement for legal and medical expenses.
Similar Incidents
Airline passengers globally have filed lawsuits over hot beverage incidents, highlighting a recurring safety issue in air travel. Mason’s case joins a series of similar claims against various airlines, indicating a pattern of burns caused by spilled hot drinks during flights.
In February, a Korean Air (KE) passenger sued after a flight attendant allegedly spilled boiling coffee on her lap, causing injuries near her genital area. Another Korean Air traveler filed a lawsuit in 2022, claiming burns from spilled hot tea. A 2015 case involved a male passenger suing the same airline for coffee-related injuries during turbulence.
Korean Air recently discontinued instant noodle service on long-haul flights, citing an increase in burn accidents due to turbulence. This decision underscores the growing concern over passenger safety related to hot beverage service.
Ryanair (FR) faced a lawsuit in 2015 from a passenger who claimed genital burns from spilled boiling tea. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. Virgin Australia (VA) was sued by a teenager in 2016 for alleged genital burns from a coffee spill.
A model sued Asiana Airlines (OZ) in 2018 for third-degree burns caused by spilled hot noodle soup, resulting in a Seoul court awarding her approximately $130,000 in compensation.
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