Scandinavian Airlines sued for $10 million after hot coffee spill burns 78-year-old woman mid-flight

A relaxing vacation turned into a shocking and heartbreaking turn of events when a couple retired from Queen, New York, their dream holiday turned into a nightmare due to the negligence of the airline's flight attendant.

As per the New York Post reports, Aymara Corbo, who is 78 years old, got severely burnt when a Scandinavian Airlines flight attendant accidentally spilt a hot coffee on her while on the flight. The couple has lodged a $10 million lawsuit, alleging negligence and seeking compensation for the physical and emotional trauma caused by the incident. This case brings into the spotlight due to high negligence in the airline industry and raises several questions on the training of the cabin crew, passenger safety protocols and more.

Scandinavian Airlines sued over hot coffee spill that ruined vacation

The accident happened on April 3, 2024, aboard a Scandinavian Airlines flight from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Oslo, Norway. Aymara Corbo and her husband Giuseppe, 86, were en route to start a two-week cruise around the British Isles. The accident happened at about 10 am, when the cabin crew started their drinks service, court documents stated, filed in New York.During the flight, a flight attendant apparently poured a cup of coffee that has been characterized by legal authorities as "excessively hot" onto the lap of Aymara.

According to the plaintiffs, the coffee's temperature threatened an unreasonable danger to passengers and that adequate precautions were not observed by the airline crew in maintaining safety while serving drinks aboard a moving plane.

Aymara left with severe burns and pains due to the negligence of airlines

The suit outlines the nature of Aymara's injuries as "severe burns, pain and suffering, scarring, and cosmetic deformity." These were not mere temporary inconveniences, but they had lasting physical and psychological effects on the aged woman.Aymara, a retired bookkeeper, was allegedly kept inside her cabin for the duration of most of the cruise and could not venture out or partake in the ports of call they had scheduled. Her husband, Giuseppe, a retired NYC Housing Authority worker, had to stay with her and serve as her caregiver throughout the journey, adding to their ordeal.

$10 million lawsuit filed after hot coffee spill

As per the reports, the Corbos' suit, brought with the assistance of lawyer Jonathan Reiter, blames Scandinavian Airlines for breaching their duty of care to passengers, especially older ones who are more susceptible to injury.

The lawyers contend that the carrier should have served the coffee at a safe temperature and exercised additional care to prevent spills in turbulence or tight aisle service.The couple is asking for $10 million worth of damages, which include payment for medical care, emotional distress, and deprivation of the enjoyment of their holiday. Besides, Giuseppe is also asking for $1 million each for himself for the emotional tolland distress of having to observe his wife's agony and tend to her while on holiday.

Airline’s silence raises questions about safety and accountability

Until now, Scandinavian Airlines has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident or the lawsuit, reports The New York Post. Their refusal to speak out invite's allegations of accountability and transparency in airline procedures particularly when it comes to in-flight injuries that might have been avoided through stronger training and safety measures. Also Read | 92-year-old Chinese grandma stuns netizens with daily routine of 200 push-ups and 100 sit-ups