British Airways to pay passenger who slipped in a puddle of Baileys up to $8.4 million compensation

British Airways has been ordered to pay compensation to a passenger after he slipped and injured himself at London’s Heathrow Airport. Photo / 123rf

THREE KEY FACTS

• A man sued an airline for $10.4 million, and won up to $8.4m, after he slipped over a puddle of spilt Baileys at a London airport
• He said he suffered regular headaches after flying 2m into the air when he slipped
• A lawyer for British Airways argued the incident happened because of the passenger’s hastiness and that the airline should have been exonerated

British Airways (BA) owes a passenger up to £4 million ($8.4m) after he suffered a brain injury when he slipped over a puddle of Baileys Irish Creme at London’s Heathrow Airport.

In November 2017, Swiss executive Andreas Wuchner and his business partner were rushing to make a flight back to Zurich after already missing a plane previously that day due to traffic.

Although the pair were the last to board the gate, the then-35-year-old rushed to buy two espressos and two macchiatos from Starbucks, the Guardian reported.

Wuchner, who ran an office supplies company, was rushing as he balanced four coffees and failed to notice the spillage of alcohol on the floor. He then slipped and bumped his head.

According to the Daily Mail, the Central London County Court heard the airline fiercely object to the claims by Wuchner, who initially sued for £5m ($10.4m) after alleging that he couldn’t work due to the injuries from the incident.

“I really enjoy a proper coffee out of a coffee machine, rather than the normal airport coffee, which is why I went to Starbucks,” Wuchner explained when asked why he stopped for coffee.

He added in his evidence: “I was told I went 2m in the air, that’s what was said to me.”

Wuchner went on to tell the court that since the incident he has had regular headaches which last up to two weeks.

Judge David Saunders ruled in favour of the passenger, saying he found it “unusual that no immediate steps were taken by anyone from BA to prevent an accident”.

But he only awarded Wuchner 80% of his claim, adding that “he has not taken as much care as he should reasonably have been expected to”.

According to the Guardian, BA barrister Tom Bird argued that the cause of the incident was the passenger hurrying while carrying four coffees, and that the airline should be cleared of liability.

This was Wuchner’s second victory over BA on the same claim. The first was won in February 2021 - he was awarded £130,000.