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Ryanair Passenger Scarred After Scalding Tea Spill
13 Mar
Summary
- A passenger suffered severe burns from scalding tea on a Ryanair flight.
- The incident occurred due to a tea lid popping off, spilling boiling water.
- The burns resulted in a prolonged hospital stay and lasting scarring.

A 69-year-old woman has sustained serious burns and is left with lifelong scarring after a "scalding" hot tea incident on a Ryanair flight. The passenger was traveling from Bournemouth Airport to Malta when, approximately 20 minutes into the flight, the lid of her hot beverage allegedly popped off, spilling boiling water across her lap and inner thighs. She described screaming in pain and hyperventilating for the remaining three hours of the journey, during which Ryanair staff applied gel packs and iced water to her burns.
Upon landing in Malta, she was taken directly to the hospital for treatment. Further hospital visits followed, including a day on an IV antibiotic drip and daily bandage changes, significantly disrupting her holiday. The passenger believes the water was exceptionally hot because it was filled from a vessel at the back of the plane, rather than from a standard drinks trolley, and noted that on the return flight, passengers were cautioned about the lids on hot drinks.
She expressed distress over the lasting physical and psychological impact, including daily cream application for her scars, limitations on sun exposure, and recurrent flashbacks. The passenger also voiced concern for the safety of others, particularly mothers with children, and has not received an apology from the airline.




