After 8-Year-Old Scalded by Hot Tea on Plane, RI Family Sues Airline in Federal Court

After 8-Year-Old Scalded by Hot Tea on Plane, RI Family Sues Airline in Federal Court

A Rhode Island family has sued an airline in federal court, after they say their then-8-year-old was scalded by hot tea on a flight, “resulting in serious burns to her legs, abdomen, and [other parts of her body].” 

In the 14-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court, North Providence residents Megan Conaty and Ryan Conaty, on behalf of their minor daughter “AC,” say that they were on an Alaska Airlines flight in 2022 when the incident occurred.

Now, over three years later, the family says their daughter still has visible scars - which she tells friends are from “a shark bite.” 

They are suing Alaska Airlines for negligence and are seeking compensatory damages. 


About Lawsuit

In the lawsuit, the parents - who are being represented by attorney Thomas Connolly - say that they were taking a flight from Boston to Portland, Oregon, on November 17, 2022, with their two children. 

“AC was seated in [a] middle seat between another passenger, who had the window seat, and her father Ryan, who had an aisle seat,” the lawsuit states. 

“At around 9:45 PM PST, approximately 45 minutes before the flight’s scheduled landing, Alaska offered a drink service. On information and belief, this was the final drink service of the flight, and due to their seating near the back of the plane, Ryan and AC were among the last to be offered the drink service,” the lawsuit alleges. “It appeared that the flight attendant was rushing to complete the drink service.” 

The lawsuit maintains that “Ryan had his computer on his tray table, and AC were both watching a movie” when AC “asked her father for a hot tea.” 

“There were some papers and other items on AC’s tray table, however AC and Ryan had cleared room on the tray table when the drink service was announced,” the lawsuit continues. “Ryan asked the flight attendant for a cup of hot tea for AC, and a cup of decaffeinated coffee for himself.” 

The lawsuit says the flight attendant handed Ryan a cup of hot water and a tea bag, “which he placed on the cleared portion of AC’s tray table;” it goes on to claim “the flight attendant did not provide a cover for the hot tea, nor did she advise either Ryan or AC that the tray table needed to be cleared or that the tea needed to be placed in the shallow divot in the tray table for drinks.” 

“Ryan asked for milk for both his and AC’s tea, which was too hot to drink,” the lawsuit continues. “While the flight attendant was away from the beverage cart, the passenger seated on the opposite side of AC jostled the tray on which the tea was placed. The tea was knocked over into her lap, scalding AC.” 


Incident Aftermath

The lawsuit goes on to state that the “pain was excruciating and that AC immediately started screaming” and that AC “began vomiting due to the severity of the pain.” 

A flight attendant made an announcement asking if there was a doctor on board, at which time a passenger who was a physician “advised that due to the severity of the burns…AC should be transported to an urgent care facility as soon as possible.”

Flight attendants called ahead for paramedics, according to the lawsuit. “Thereafter, AC continued to suffer severe pain and discomfort as a result of the burn,” the lawsuit maintains. 

“AC has permanent scarring in the area of the burns, some of which is visible at and around her bathing suit line…other children have noticed and commented on the scars while swimming,” says the lawsuit. “AC tells them it was a shark attack.” 

In the suit, the family claims the airline “failed to offer or provide a lid for scalding water prior to delivering it to an eight-year-old girl; failed to warn or otherwise provide a beverage which was heated to a reasonably safe temperature; failed to remain with the service cart; and failed to offer or provide milk or a colling agent prior to delivering the scalding water.” 

The lawsuit goes on to claim Alaska Airlines “failed to properly train or supervise its employees concerning the safe service of hot beverages;" the family seeks a trial by jury. 

Neither Connolly nor Aleska Airlines’ attorney responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.