British Airways Stewardess Loses £72,500 Compensation Bid After Turbulence Injury
A veteran British Airways stewardess who suffered serious injuries when her aircraft encountered severe turbulence has lost her legal bid for over £72,000 in damages. Laura Lanigan, a 56-year-old crew member from Richmond with nearly three decades of service, was aboard a Boeing 777 flight from London Heathrow to Mumbai in June 2019 when the incident occurred.
The Turbulent Incident and Injuries
As the aircraft prepared to land after a nine-hour journey, it experienced what was described as a violent drop and sudden, severe turbulence. Mrs Lanigan was flung into the air, crashing back down and sustaining multiple injuries. She fractured her knee, dislocated her shoulder, and was struck by an unsecured drinks canister during the chaotic episode.
The injuries proved so debilitating that the experienced stewardess was unable to stand afterwards. She had to be removed from the aircraft using a wheelchair, marking a dramatic end to what should have been a routine flight.
The Legal Battle and Court Proceedings
This week, Mrs Lanigan took British Airways to Central London County Court, seeking £72,500 in compensation. Her legal team argued that the accident resulted from pilot error, specifically that the aircraft had been flown too close to a cumulonimbus storm cloud. Her barrister, Sinclair Cramsie, claimed the pilot should have either diverted further from the cloud or instructed cabin crew to take their seats and fasten seatbelts.
Mrs Lanigan described the turbulence as the worst she had experienced in approximately thirty years of flying, emphasising that while there had been mild to moderate turbulence earlier in the flight, this particular jolt was unexpected and extreme.
The Airline's Defence and Meteorological Evidence
British Airways vigorously contested the claims through their barrister, Peter Savory. The airline presented evidence from both flight officers who stated they saw no storm clouds from the cockpit. Instead, they reported only seeing fluffy white clouds, known as cumulus clouds, in the vicinity.
While expert meteorological evidence presented in court did indicate high turbulence in the area, it ultimately supported the pilots' accounts. The weather expert acknowledged the flight crew's considerable experience in distinguishing between different cloud formations.
The Judge's Ruling and Conclusion
Judge David Saunders dismissed the compensation claim, ruling that the incident constituted a very unfortunate, but unexpected and not reasonably foreseeable, accident. He found the pilots' evidence clear, consistent, and credible, noting they would have prioritised both passenger and their own safety.
The judge emphasised that the burden of proof rested with the claimant and concluded that Mrs Lanigan had not demonstrated any breach of duty by the airline or its crew. With this ruling, the veteran stewardess's damages claim was formally dismissed, bringing the legal proceedings to a close.
