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NEW YORK CITY— A Team USA judo coach has reportedly suffered permanent vision loss in one eye after a JetBlue Airways (B6) flight attendant accidentally spilled scalding coffee on his face during an international flight.
The incident occurred aboard JetBlue Flight 1825 en route from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Lima Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in July 2023.
Arturas Lanchinskas, a 30-year-old third-degree black belt and coach traveling for the Pan American Judo Championships, is now suing JetBlue Airways (B6), citing severe burns and irreversible eye damage caused by the in-flight accident.
Photo: Clément AlloingJetBlue Attendant Coffee Spill
Lanchinskas, also a martial arts instructor and owner of Darfight Martial Arts in Brooklyn, was seated on the JetBlue flight when a flight attendant unintentionally spilled a pot of hot coffee.
The liquid splashed onto his face, severely burning the right side of his face and his right eye, according to the lawsuit filed in New York.
Describing the intense pain, Lanchinskas told The New York Post that it “felt like a surge of fire hit the surface of my eyeball.” The immediate aftermath saw a neighboring passenger, who was a doctor, advising Lanchinskas to repeatedly flush his eye with water.
However, Lanchinskas claims the flight attendants showed frustration at his frequent restroom visits necessary to rinse his eye. His attorney, Erin R. Applebaum, alleges that the crew expressed annoyance, stating that other passengers also needed to use the restroom facilities.
Upon landing in Lima (LIM), Lanchinskas was rushed to a hospital where doctors treated his facial and ocular burns.
Upon his return to New York (JFK), specialists diagnosed him with a thermal and chemical injury to his right eye, leaving him with permanent light sensitivity and reduced vision.
Photo: Clément AlloingLegal Action Under the Montreal Convention
The lawsuit argues that JetBlue Airways (B6) is responsible under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that holds airlines liable for injuries sustained during international flights.
The suit seeks full and fair compensation for the damages Lanchinskas has suffered.
Applebaum emphasized that the injuries had long-term implications for Lanchinskas, both personally and professionally, particularly given his career in martial arts.
In-Flight Safety Concerns
This incident isn’t isolated in the broader context of in-flight safety. In June 2023, American Airlines (AA) Flight 1286 from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) encountered severe turbulence, leading to multiple injuries.
Passengers reported abrupt altitude drops, causing laptops, phones, and other items to strike occupants.
Among the injured were passengers and crew members, including a flight attendant scalded by boiling water and another who reportedly sustained a broken arm. These occurrences highlight the ongoing risks associated with air travel, particularly concerning hot beverages and turbulence.
Photo: American Airlines (Representative Photo)Similar Incident
American Airlines (AA) is facing a federal lawsuit after a passenger suffered severe burns from a coffee spill during a turbulent flight from Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
Passenger Gina Mason claims she was severely injured when hot coffee spilled onto her lap during AA Flight 4547 on February 11, following a turbulence warning from the flight crew.
According to the complaint filed on August 13 in the Wayne County Circuit Court, the aircraft captain alerted passengers to prepare for turbulence and advised them to remain seated.
During this time, flight attendants were serving drinks and had stationed a beverage cart near Mason, seated in 29A.
The turbulence reportedly jolted the cart, causing a pot of hot coffee to tip over and spill onto Mason’s lap. As a result, the 68-year-old passenger allegedly suffered first and second-degree burns to her legs, thighs, and genital area.
The lawsuit, which was later transferred to the U.S. District Court in Detroit, outlines Mason’s allegations that American Airlines was negligent.
Specifically, Mason claims the airline failed to properly secure the beverage cart and did not remove hot liquids during turbulent conditions, despite prior warnings.
Mason’s legal filing details a range of physical and psychological injuries resulting from the incident.
She cites intense physical pain, scarring, partial disability, and a diminished quality of life. Additionally, she reports ongoing anxiety, depression, and emotional distress caused by the accident.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses, legal fees, and damages related to pain, suffering, emotional trauma, and permanent disfigurement. Mason is also asking for reimbursement for any future medical treatments required due to her injuries.
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The post JetBlue Attendant Coffee Spill Leaves USA Judo Coach with Permanent Eye Injury: Lawsuit appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
