Summary
- Lufthansa Airlines offered $500 to a teenager who suffered burns from a coffee spill on their flight, but the passenger and his family are seeking accountability and an apology from the airline.
- The incident occurred during the second leg of the flight, when a flight attendant placed a cup of coffee at an angle that caused it to spill directly on the passenger’s lower body.
- Despite the airline’s response, the passenger’s burns were healed before returning home, and the family is disappointed with the handling of the incident and insists on accountability and an apology from Lufthansa.
The flag carrier of Germany, Lufthansa Airlines, offered a sum of $500 to a teenage passenger who suffered second-degree burns as a result of a coffee spill on board. The Toronto-based individual Jack Hayden was flying from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Budapest when the incident happened.
Short-haul aircraft generally have very limited space in the cabin. The airline is in the process of upgrading short-haul cabins with USB power and tablet holders. The passenger and his family need accountability for the incident and an apology from the airline.
The incident
In July, 19-year-old Jake Hayden was taking a trip from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Budapest with Lufthansa Airlines. It was the individual’s first trip overseas, where he flew from YYZ to FRA on the first leg before continuing to Budapest. During the second leg of the journey, the flight attendants offered hot beverages before touchdown.
Photo: InsectWorld | Shutterstock
The AeroTime Hub reported that according to the passenger,
“Coffee and tea were offered prior to touchdown, and the flight attendant placed a cup of coffee at an angle that made the hot beverage spill directly on the right side of his lower body.”
The passenger initially felt pain and burning due to the spill. The passenger also noted that the flight attendant only said, “Oh no,” and continued to serve other passengers. After the beverage service was over, Hayden had the opportunity to walk to the lavatory. He was able to wash and cool off his burns.
The rest of the flight was uncomfortable for the passenger, who reportedly could not fasten his seatbelt due to the pain caused by the burns. Upon his arrival in Budapest, Hayden consulted a pharmacist who confirmed that he suffered second-degree burns and prescribed medication to be applied throughout his trip.
The teenager suffered pain and discomfort throughout his trip. However, his burns were healed before he returned to his home in Toronto. As such, he did not consult a local doctor in Canada.
The airline’s response
Jack Hayden and his family had contacted Lufthansa Airlines regarding the incident on board the flight to Budapest. Arrow time hub reports that the Lufthansa customer relations department sent an email statement to the family on September 15, stating,
“We would like to inform you that there was no injury report filed on board the flight by your son, and we are still awaiting a reply from the crew if they can recall the incident.”
Photo: fivetonine / Shutterstock
The airline also offered a sum of $500 to compensate for the suffering. The airline reportedly said it was the maximum amount they could offer without any medical documents or bills provided by the passenger.
Jack Hayden and his family showed their disappointment with the airline’s statement. They believe that the airline was unable to handle the incident well, particularly the flight attendant’s actions following the incident. The passenger insists on having some accountability and an apology from the airline.
What are your thoughts on the coffee spill incident onboard Lufthansa Airlines flight? Have you faced a similar situation during your travel? Share your experience in the comment section.
Source: AeroTime Hub
