Woman sues British Airways after in-flight injury resulted in ‘severe’ deficits

28 Aug 2026 • 1:19 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Woman sues British Airways after in-flight injury resulted in ‘severe’ deficits

  • Kentucky resident Andrea Stendel filed a federal lawsuit against British Airways after a heavy metal water bottle fell from an overhead bin, striking her head during an August 2024 flight.
  • The impact left the recent occupational therapy graduate with a concussion, severe neurocognitive deficits, a lacerated scalp, and visual disorders that prevent her eyes from working together properly.
  • According to the lawsuit, the injuries forced Stendel to delay her board licensing examination by 12 weeks, leading to more than $20,000 in lost earning capacity.
  • The complaint alleges British Airways negligently operated overhead storage bins without safety retention netting and failed to follow proper onboard incident protocols after the accident.
  • Stendel is seeking compensatory damages for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, permanent impairment of earning capacity, and physical and emotional distress.

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