LONDON- British Airways (BA) is facing a lawsuit worth more than £50,000 from an American passenger who claims she suffered serious leg injuries after falling while disembarking from an aircraft at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in March 2023.
Melissa Phillips, 49, from Maryland, alleges that passengers jostled her on damp aircraft steps because of inadequate crowd control. British Airways denies responsibility and argues that she failed to exercise sufficient care while leaving the aircraft.
Passenger Alleges Negligence During Disembarkation
According to High Court documents, Phillips was travelling from Israel to the United States with British Airways, transiting through Heathrow Airport in London.
The incident occurred in March 2023 as passengers disembarked from the aircraft using external steps. Phillips’ legal team alleges that the disembarkation process became chaotic because cabin crew provided minimal crowd control or direction.
Katherine Deal KC, representing Phillips, argued that passengers were descending damp and overcrowded steps when Phillips was pushed and knocked off balance by other travellers.
Her legal team claims that the airline failed to implement adequate measures to prevent passengers from jostling each other while using the aircraft steps.
The claim also alleges that British Airways failed to reduce the risk of overcrowding and did not provide reasonably safe conditions for passengers during disembarkation.
Phillips is seeking more than £50,000 in compensation for the injuries and their continuing impact on her daily life.
British Airways Passenger Suffers Serious Leg Fractures
Phillips sustained spiral fractures to her left tibia and fibula following the fall. She was taken to hospital, where she underwent surgery before returning to the United States several days later.
Her legal representatives said that she continued to experience pain and restricted movement despite receiving medical treatment and undergoing rehabilitation.
The injuries have reportedly affected her ability to carry out everyday activities and manage her household.
Deal also told the court that Phillips had experienced psychological distress because of her ongoing pain and limited mobility.
Her legal team claims that the symptoms are expected to be permanent and will continue to affect her quality of life.
British Airways Denies Liability
British Airways is defending the compensation claim and disputes the allegations surrounding the disembarkation process.
Christopher Loxton, representing the airline, argued that passengers were not descending the aircraft steps unusually or unexpectedly.
The airline also disputes the allegation that the steps were damp. Its defence states that cabin crew did not observe any disorderly or unusual behaviour among passengers during disembarkation.
Loxton said that providing specific crowd-control measures or directing passengers while they descended the aircraft steps was not part of the airline’s normal operating procedure.
British Airways argues that Phillips most likely lost her footing because she was not paying sufficient attention while descending the steps.
The airline also claims that she failed to use the handrails and may have caused herself to come into contact with other passengers or their luggage.
Its defence maintains that Phillips failed to exercise reasonable care for her own safety and that the airline should not be held responsible for the incident.
British Airways Offers Medical Expense Payment
Although British Airways denies liability for the accident, it has offered Phillips £6,987 towards her medical expenses.
However, the offer does not represent an admission of responsibility, and the airline continues to contest the wider compensation claim.
Phillips is seeking more than £50,000, with her legal team citing the seriousness of her fractures, ongoing physical symptoms, psychological distress and the impact on her daily activities.
The claim remains disputed, and a hearing is yet to take place. No court ruling on liability or compensation has been reported in the supplied proceedings.
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