Upminster Mother Awarded £4,000 After Scalding Incident on Ryanair Flight
A holidaymaker from East London has secured £4,000 in damages after suffering painful second-degree burns when a cup of hot tea slid off a tray table during a Ryanair flight. Devon Buffoni, a 31-year-old tax advisor from Upminster, described the September 2023 incident as a "horrible, horrible experience" that marred her wedding preparations and left her with lasting scars.
Traumatic In-Flight Accident
Devon was traveling with her family from Bordeaux to Stansted Airport after visiting her wedding venue when the accident occurred. She was seated in the middle of a row, with her partner and their 11-month-old son nearby. A cup of tea placed on the tray table suddenly slid off, its lid coming loose and pouring boiling liquid directly into her lap. The shock caused her to scream, which in turn upset her young son.
"I tried to catch it, but the lid came off and boiling hot tea poured all over my lap," Devon explained. "It was obvious that the flight tray was not fit for purpose." The burns began to blister immediately after the flight, despite initial paramedic assessments labeling them as superficial.
Inadequate Response and Medical Care
Devon criticized the flight crew's response, noting a lack of basic medical training and slow reaction times. She was given only one bottle of water to cool her injuries, and the drinks trolley was not moved to allow for proper medical attention. Supplies on board were insufficient, with one first-aid box lacking burn patches entirely and the main medical kit containing only a small patch.
"The area where the patch was placed has no damage, so it goes to show what could have happened had they been properly stocked," she added. Upon landing, an ambulance met the plane, but the burns worsened significantly by the time she reached the baggage area.
Legal Battle and Settlement
After reporting the incident to Ryanair, Devon faced delays and denials. The airline initially disputed her account, suggesting she had knocked the tea herself, before finally agreeing to a £4,000 settlement in January. "It took them ages to reply, and when they did, there were so many inconsistencies," Devon said. "If they replied straight away and apologised, I wouldn’t have been so angry."
Frustrated by the lack of accountability, she sought legal help from Hudgells Solicitors. Paul Rimmer, a member of her legal team, noted a "worrying trend" of similar incidents on budget flights, citing another case where a 63-year-old nurse was burned by hot coffee due to a "flimsy" tray table.
Long-Term Impact and Broader Concerns
The incident had a profound effect on Devon's life, impacting her confidence on her wedding day in France a year later. She continues to deal with long-term issues, including scarring that reacts painfully to cold weather. "The scarring decreased last summer, but it’s still there," she said. "In similar cases, it could have led to life-changing scarring."
Rimmer emphasized that this case highlights broader safety issues: "This is yet another case in which Ryanair tried to confuse, obfuscate and blur the lines of truth and accountability." He urged for better monitoring of in-flight accidents, particularly those linked to outdated tray tables on budget airlines.
Devon expressed relief at the outcome but warned others to be cautious. "I was lucky as the burns were on my upper legs," she concluded. "I don’t want to even think about what had happened if the drink had fallen on my son."
