A man is suing Virgin Atlantic after claiming he suffered severe burns when a cup of hot coffee slid off a slanted tray table and spilled onto his lap during a flight from Las Vegas to London. Nicholas Gibbs, 41, said the accident left him in “absolute agony” and caused serious burns to his genitals, which he says were badly blistered by the time the plane landed.
Gibbs recalled that his tray table was already crowded with food when cabin crew placed a cup of coffee on it. He said the cup slipped almost immediately because the tray was “badly slanted” and “too flimsy” to hold the drink securely. According to Gibbs, the spill caused intense pain and shock, and he said the response from flight attendants was slow.
He claimed nearly 20 minutes passed before anyone helped by giving him water to pour over the injured area. Gibbs said he then sat for about an hour on a wet seat before crew members applied burn cream and a bandage. He was also given pain relief and loose-fitting pajamas because his clothing had been soaked, he said.
Gibbs said he was told medical help would be waiting at Heathrow, but he claimed no one met him when he arrived. He also said the bandage had fallen off by the time he landed and that he has had no further contact from the airline.
Although Gibbs said his burns have healed, he argued the incident has had lasting effects on his life, including emotional distress and disruption to plans to start a family with his partner. He said the injury has affected his sense of masculinity and that “it will never be the same again.”
His attorney said the airline failed to provide proper care after the accident and argued that hot-drink spill injuries caused by cups sliding off tray tables are becoming increasingly common. The lawyer said the case will examine whether the tray tables used on aircraft are fit for purpose.
Virgin Atlantic said its cabin crew are trained to serve drinks safely and said hot drinks are served below boiling temperature in specially designed cups or mugs. The airline also said it has suspended hot-drink service when cabin conditions are not suitable.
