British Airways sued £50,000 by US passenger after falling on ‘damp’ plane steps

Melissa Phillips is suing British Airways for more than £50,000 after falling while getting off a plane at Heathrow in March 2023 and fracturing her left leg. Her lawyers say crowded, damp steps and limited guidance from cabin crew caused the fall; the case matters because the airline disputes responsibility.

Phillips was travelling from Israel to Maryland via Heathrow and later underwent surgery before returning to the US. British Airways argues she lost her footing after failing to look carefully as she descended, and says crowd control was not normal procedure. It has offered £6,987 towards her medical expenses; a hearing has not yet taken place.