Man Sues Southwest Airlines After Flight Attendant Spills Hot Drink
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A man from southwest suburban Worth is suing Southwest Airlines because he said he was injured when a flight attendant spilled a hot liquid on his neck and back.
A vacation in Las Vegas was the destination of Samir El Abaza and his wife. WBBM's Steve Miller reports.
His attorney Tyler Kobylski said Abaza flew Southwest from Midway five months ago. Abaza was sleeping in his aisle seat when a flight attendant tried to give hot tea or coffee to another passenger and then spilled it on Abaza.
"She just spilled it all over his neck. Obviously the shirt soaked up a lot of the liquid. It just caused a lot of burns all around his neck and his upper back and his right shoulder."
Kobylski said flight crew made it even worse when they rubbed some kind of cream into Abaza's skin.
He said the spill had nothing to do with turbulence. The flight attendant just spilled the liquid.
Kobylski said his client has a scar and needs more medical attention. He is asking for damages in excess of $50,000.
Kobylski said Abaza is a crane operator.
Southwest Airlines said it does not comment on pending litigation.