Ryanair is reported to have agreed to pay €50,000 to a child who was injured when a piece of luggage fell out of an overhead locker on one of its aircraft three years ago.
Klaudia Adamczyk (11) suffered a fracture to the right side of the base of her skull when the luggage, which had been allegedly forced in to the overhead bin earlier by cabin crew, fell out as a passenger opened the locker on landing.
The High Court in Dublin heard yesterday that the case had been settled, the Irish Independent reported.
Approving the €50,000 settlement, Ms Justice Mary Irvine said it must have been a distressing experience for the young girl who was eight at the time.
Gerry Danaher QC, for the family, told the court the girl had been flying with her mother from Wroclaw to East Midlands airport on September 24, 2010, when the accident occurred.
Counsel said the case had been brought in Ireland because the airline was from the country and has it principal base of business there.
The child was upset at the time but her mother sought medical attention about ten days later when she saw blood in the child’s ear, counsel said.
A fracture was discovered and confirmed by a CT scan. Following hospital treatment the gril could not take part in physical activity for six months on the instructions of her doctors.
Klaudia had sued through her mother Betya Adamczyk of Bielany, Wroclawskie, Wroclaw.
It was claimed Ryanair was negligent in failing to exercise due diligence when loading and unloading the overhead bins. It was also claimed the airline failed to ensure the safety of its passengers when preparing to disembark the aircraft.
A medical examination of the child last year noted Klaudia suffered from headaches, the court was told.