Passenger sues JetBlue for $1.5M claiming hot water scalded her, left 'disfiguring burns'
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A passenger is suing JetBlue for $1.5 million, alleging she was left with "disfiguring burns" after “dangerously” hot tea water spilled on her during in-flight beverage service amid turbulence, according to the lawsuit.
Tahjana Lewis, who was onboard JetBlue flight 2237 from Orlando to Hartford, Connecticut, with her family on May 15, is suing the airline for damages for personal injuries. Lewis’ complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on Friday alleges JetBlue was “careless” and failed to provide her with “reasonably safe traveling conditions.”
During the flight, the plane encountered turbulence, prompting the fasten seatbelt sign to turn on. The flight crew was performing the in-flight beverage service during that time.
A crew member was serving the passenger behind Lewis a cup of tea when the crew member spilled the hot beverage onto Lewis, giving her second- and third-degree burns on her chest, legs, right arm and backside, according to the complaint.
“That’s something they shouldn’t have done,” Edward A. Jazlowiecki, Lewis’ attorney from Connecticut-based personal injury law firm Jazlowiecki & Jazlowiecki, LLC, told USA TODAY. “This is a serious issue for them.”
The complaint alleges that crew members served water at an “unreasonably” hot temperature during a time when “ongoing turbulence” made it unsafe to perform beverage service. Lewis also claims crew members did not “administer first aid” but told her to get medical help when they landed. “They didn’t do much for her,” said Jazlowiecki. “They were very cavalier about it.”
JetBlue did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
According to the complaint, Lewis has scarring at her burn sites, and has suffered mental anguish, anxiety and post-traumatic stress from the incident. Lewis will likely also need skin grafts, according to Jazlowiecki.
In May, one person died of a heart attack and 30 others were treated for injuries when a Singapore Airlines flight hit severe turbulence and had to make an emergency landing. It’s unclear if the turbulence was related to the death, but the incident prompted the airline to change its policies and suspend hot beverage and meal service whenever the seatbelt sign is on.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Passenger sues JetBlue, alleges scalding hot water gave 'severe burns'
