Boy burned by hot chocolate while on flight awarded €70k

A BOY who spilled hot chocolate on his lap on an Aer Lingus flight has been awarded €70,000 in damages.

Judge Kevin Cross approved the settlement offer made by Aer Lingus Group DAC following the injury suffered by Jason Yonkeu, from Wellview Park, Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin.

Now 14, Jason was 11 and on a flight back to his home in Dublin from Nice, France with his father Leopold when the accident happened in August 2016.

Judge Cross heard that Jason had been sitting in a window seat, next to his father. A cabin crew member handed him a hot chocolate with a plastic lid attached to the cup, as well as a number of potted portions of milk.

Jason removed the lid to add the milk to cool the drink, but the liquid spilled from the cup into his lap and scalded him.

He suffered immediate pain, and was rushed to the aircraft toilets by his father for first aid from his father and the cabin crew.

He poured water on his thigh, but it was immediately visible that he had suffered a significant burn, and that his skin was starting to peel.

Jason and his father were told that Dublin was just one hour away, and they agreed to fly home.

An ambulance took Jason to the Temple Street Children’s Hospital where his burn was cleaned and dressed, and he was sent home to recuperate. However, he had to attend the burns unit four times for further treatment. The burn was said to measure 8cm by 14cm.

Jason’s counsel David Nolan SC said the amount offered by the airline was in line with his full valuation of Jason’s injury, even if no admission of liability had been made.