Parents Sue United Airlines After Six-Year-Old Daughter Burned by Hot Meal Falling Off Tray Table

An Israeli couple is suing United Airlines after their six-year-old daughter was burned by a hot meal that fell off a malfunctioning tray table. The incident occurred on a flight from Tel Aviv (TLV) to Newark (EWR) in July 2022.

The Incident

Michal and her husband, Ben Fefferman, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois. Their daughter, who was 6 years old at the time and goes by O.F., got burned by a hot meal served by the airline. The filed lawsuit said that O.F.'s tray table was tilted downward, causing her meal tray to fall into her lap after the flight attendant put it down in front of her.

The lawsuit states:

"Although the meal tray should have provided a level surface so that food and/or drinks like the meal tray at issue could be placed on them safely, this particular tray table was defective, slanting downward toward the seat where O.F. sat,"

The case further allegedly states that the food was "unreasonably hot" and caused severe burns. As a result of these actions, the child is said to have "suffered in extreme discomfort for the remainder of the 12-hour flight." The family also mentioned that their child "is now scarred and disfigured." The filing also reported that the aircraft did not have proper supplies to treat burns when the family requested medical attention.

The lawsuit consisted of the following items:

• Not providing food at a "reasonably safe temperature"
• Providing a meal not "intended for a child"
• Not checking the temperature of the food
• Not examining the tray table's stability

The Feffermans mentioned that United Airlines failed to do the following:

"to exercise reasonable care in the operation of the Flight, including the provision of food to passengers, access to safe and/or sturdy tray tables, maintenance of tray tables, access to medical devices and/or to warn passengers of defective equipment such as tray tables."

The court filing alleges that the airline neglected its duties. Due to United Airline's breach of duties:

"O.F. was seriously injured and is seeking past and future non-economic damages for her injuries, burns, disfigurement, scarring, discoloration, neurological deficits, impairment, pain, suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, inconvenience, humiliation, embarrassment, and the loss of ability to enjoy her life, which she has experienced in the past and/or will continue to experience in the future."

The Feffermans, who reside in Jerusalem, have requested a jury trial for airlines to compensate medical costs and cover the damages of over $75,000.

Medical Kits on Flights

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets minimum standards for medical equipment required on flights. These standards include at least one Food and Drug Administration-approved automated external defibrillator (AED) machine and a first aid kit filled with supplies. The supplies in the kit must include alcohol wipes, gauze and bandages, a stethoscope, IV equipment, and medicines like antihistamines and epinephrine. However, some medical conditions may lack the required assistance since these regulations were last updated in 2006.

Raychel Armstrong, an Allegiant Air flight attendant and a representative of its flight attendant union, once mentioned that she had witnessed a passenger die on one of her flights due to insufficient medical equipment.

Armstrong, who was placed in a difficult position due to low-quality equipment on the aircraft, said:

"They could not even get a needle in him because they just kept breaking. It's traumatizing for the doctor and the nurse who is working on these people because they can't give them the care they need." 

Therefore, it is important to carry enough medical equipment in the aircraft to avoid incidents and traumatic events for both parties. An update on the regulations is necessary since the passengers may need further assistance, and the aircraft might be unable to provide it at such a crucial moment. While it may help to inform the flight attendants about the medical situation immediately so the plane can divert and the care could start as early as possible, the major problem is that medical kits often have little or no necessary equipment.