British Airways faces legal action from a passenger injured by a bag falling from an overhead compartment.
Wayne Herbert, 45, a writer from north London, claims to have suffered “searing pain” when a fellow traveller’s bag hit him in the head as he sat waiting to take off, the London Evening Standard reported.
He claims he “saw stars” when the rucksack, containing a laptop, smashed into his head and neck, causing whiplash injuries. He was taken off the US-bound aircraft on October 28 and assessed by a paramedic, but was not taken to hospital.
Herbert told the newspaper he still has anxiety following the “traumatic” incident. He has now instructed solicitors after receiving what he branded a “derisory” compensation offer including air miles and cash.
He said: “Passengers sitting in the row behind were trying to load too much luggage into the overhead and dropped a bag on my head. It bashed me on the top of my head, and has given me a whiplash injury.
“I was offloaded, based on BA’s telephone medical advice, and flew the following day. But they have been awful in sorting this out for me, and I’m now taking legal action. They also did little to help me get home comfortably.”
He criticised the airline’s policy of allowing passengers to take large pieces of hand luggage on board. He added: “I’m still suffering anxiety – this is an ongoing injury. The staff certainly were not checking what people were doing and I’m suffering as a result.”
The maximum weight for a piece of hand luggage allowed by BA is 23kg (51lb) and passengers must be able to lift it into the overhead lockers. A BA spokesman said: “Our cabin crew gave every possible help to our customer and we are still in contact with him to resolve this issue.”