In a recent lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court, New York resident Esraa Hezain has taken legal action against EgyptAir, seeking $5 million in damages. The claim arises from a February incident where Hezain, 35, suffered second-degree burns after a “scalding beverage” spilled on her during her journey from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York to Cairo, Egypt. According to Hezain’s attorney, Abram Bohrer, the accident resulted from a “defective” seat tray that failed to securely hold a lidless cup of hot tea, causing it to spill when the aircraft encountered turbulence.
The suit alleges that EgyptAir’s crew did not pause in-flight beverage service or warn passengers despite being aware of the impending turbulence. As a result, Hezain sustained painful burns to her lower abdomen, inner thigh, and buttocks. Bohrer emphasized that the injury could have been prevented “for the price of a lid,” underscoring the importance of safety measures that could have avoided such an incident.
Comparing Past Cases of Burns from Hot Items
Hezain’s case has drawn comparisons to a similar incident involving McDonald’s, where a young girl suffered burns from a hot Chicken McNugget in Florida. In 2019, four-year-old Olivia Caraballo was burned after a McNugget fell on her thigh in a parked car. Her family sued, initially requesting $15 million in damages, and a South Florida jury ultimately awarded the child $800,000 in July 2023. Both incidents highlight ongoing safety concerns around serving hot items and the responsibility companies have in protecting their customers from preventable harm.
As of the last update, EgyptAir had not released a comment on the ongoing case.
