United Airlines Faces Federal Lawsuit After Passenger Allegedly Burned by Spill of Hot Tea
A passenger is suing United Airlines in federal court for severe burns from a flight attendant’s hot tea cup. The action in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey claims Martina Jimenez De Los Santos was on a return flight from the Dominican Republic to Newark on November 4, 2024. The lawsuit says the employee placed hot tea on a surface while adjusting the overhead light. Her lap, crotch, upper and inner thighs, and private parts were stained with tea, resulting in medical expenditures and lost work time.
Jimenez De Los Santos alleges the attendant left the cup insecure and neglected to treat the mid-flight burn. Her lawyers say poor oversight caused irreparable harm. Physical, emotional, and financial harm are unspecified. Scarring and therapy may impair recovery and claims, claimed the attorney.
This filing has not been responded to by United Airlines. Hot beverages spilled on customers caused second-degree burns and highlighted concerns about cabin-service safety, tray-table maintenance, and crew standards in many airline lawsuits. In another trip, a heated lunch burned a child, causing disfigurement and legal action.
She requested help during the flight, but the cabin crew denied or delayed treatment and neglected to report it. After landing, Jimenez De Los Santos received emergency care and wound care. Her lawyer claims improved service or cup security may have prevented the mishap.
This lawsuit indicates that airlines can be held accountable for routine service issues like hot-beverage delivery and mechanical issues like tray tables and turbulence, analysts say. The flight from the Dominican Republic to Newark may indicate international guilt, depending on the carrier.
Beverage temperature, tray or holding surface, flight attendant manners, and medical treatment will matter in court. When tray-table slanting or poor service caused hot beverage spills, airlines have settled burn-injury lawsuits.
A normal in-flight beverage delivery can have lasting impacts, as Jimenez De Los Santos’ complaint indicates. She alleges her injuries are permanent, scarred in sensitive areas, painful, lost work, and required expensive medical treatment and therapy. Her attorney noted scars and recovery may modify the claim amount.
Airlines’ hot-liquid service, cabin-crew training, first-aid readiness, and liability for damage-causing errors will be scrutinized by passengers and consumer-safety groups. For now, the United Airlines case shows how in-flight hospitality affects safety and comfort.
