Woman squashed by plane passenger

DeltaFlot · 10-22-2002, 02:39 PM

Woman squashed by plane passenger
Tuesday, October 22, 2002 Posted: 4:17 AM EDT (0817 GMT)

LONDON, England -- A woman injured while squeezed next to an obese passenger on a trans-Atlantic flight has been given £13,000 ($20,000) by the airline.

Barbara Hewson, 63, was offered damages by Virgin Atlantic after suffering a blood clot, torn leg muscles and sciatica following a flight to Los Angeles in January 2001, the UK's Press Association reported.

She said the woman passenger was so large she had to sit with the arm rests up, but when she complained, the crew said there was nothing they could do as the plane was full.

Hewson, of Swansea, Wales, who still has medical treatment, was quoted by PA on Monday as saying: "It was never about the money. No money would pay for you having sleepless nights with the pain."

The freelance writer, who travelled with her husband Roy, 67, said she spent most of her holiday in bed. "It ruined the holiday. We went out very little."

Hewson added that half-way through the flight the woman asked if she was okay, saying to her: "I'm sitting on your lap."

"I had three sessions of sitting in the hostess seat and I stood for a little while," added Hewson.

Virgin Atlantic said in a statement: "This was an unprecedented set of extremely unfortunate circumstances.

"We have apologised to Mrs Hewson and offered her compensation, which she has accepted, and we are pleased that this has now reached a conclusion."

tjwgrr · 10-23-2002, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltaFlot
She said the woman passenger was so large she had to sit with the arm rests up, but when she complained, the crew said there was nothing they could do as the plane was full.

Sounds like the heifer would have been better served by Atlas or Polar Air........

Delsterx · 10-23-2002, 05:52 PM

I think if you are over a certain size you should be forced to pay for two seats. why should healthy people suffer for the over indulgence of fat phucks?

Starliner · 10-23-2002, 06:14 PM

Just further proof the era of the Zeppelin and airship is FAR from over

Piston 52 Heavy · 10-23-2002, 09:09 PM

Shouldn't living things of that size be at Sea World?

Westjetter · 10-24-2002, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Delsterx
I think if you are over a certain size you should be forced to pay for two seats. why should healthy people suffer for the over indulgence of fat phucks?

I agree - speaking of which, it was ruled to day in Canada that it is NOT discrimitory to ask an obese person to buy another seat. It has been recongnized that smaller seats and legroom exists in airplaines, and that obese people do not require special services in the airport, obese people can also board the aircraft with non-obese people. Since all of that comes in to play, obesity is not considered a disability by the Canadian Transport Association.

Delsterx · 10-24-2002, 12:34 PM

Word to your fat mother!

10-24-2002, 04:24 PM

I feel sorry for the lady that was injured. I say see should have free travel on Virgin for life

Airliners! · 10-24-2002, 04:40 PM

At 5' 10", and 230 lbs, I am not exactly skinny, but I have experienced sitting next to a 'whale' or two - not pleasant! I usually get a window seat, and have experienced being pinned in. Could not even see my inside seat rest. Once had an aisle seat - spent the flight leaning into the aisle. Was interesting when the service cart came by - I had to stand up to allow!

Will be interesting to see if the airlines enforce this policy of two seats. I wonder if that means they are allowed double t6he checked baggage, double the number of carry-ons, double the meals (or what passes for meals these days!)!!

Starliner · 10-24-2002, 05:55 PM

I guess these "Large Marge" pax redefine the term "Stratotanker."

9V-SVC · 10-24-2002, 07:24 PM

Poor lady ,at least she has quite a lot of $ to spend .

Stanman · 10-25-2002, 08:23 AM

US$20,000 is not a lot of money if she actually had a blood clot, torn leg muscles, and sciatica. If she was treated in the US the costs of her first visit alone would probably amount to that much not to mention the subsequent follow-up visits for sciatica which can last a lifetime. However being in England she does have National Health which is plus/minus. They'll probably give her a Tylenol and tell her to grin and bear it.

Interesting about the Canadian ruling. I'm still waiting for someone to challenge the new Southwest Airlines rules regarding obese passengers required to buy a second seat. My guess is that unless the plane is overbooked, Southwest would be reluctant to enforce the rule. The rule is fair though stating that the passenger will get a refund if the plane is not full.

Intersting flight I had from SFO to DFW on UA on an A320. One passenger required oxygen for the flight so they put an oxygen bottle in the overhead and duct taped an oxygen line down to the passenger seat. First time I've seen that.

justin · 10-25-2002, 05:24 PM

In the UK £13,000 is a pretty good settlement and seems very fair to me. Her medical costs are covered by national insurance so she won't have any medical bills. I think the world have gone litigation crazy with ridiculous court causes and bizarre damage awards which just ends up causing all sorts of problems.

Justin

Criton · 10-25-2002, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stanman
Intersting flight I had from SFO to DFW on UA on an A320. One passenger required oxygen for the flight so they put an oxygen bottle in the overhead and duct taped an oxygen line down to the passenger seat. First time I've seen that.

How much they they charge him for it?

JOHN JOHNSON · 10-26-2002, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by justin
In the UK £13,000 is a pretty good settlement and seems very fair to me. Her medical costs are covered by national insurance so she won't have any medical bills. I think the world have gone litigation crazy with ridiculous court causes and bizarre damage awards which just ends up causing all sorts of problems.

Justin

Correct me if I am wrong.

Is it right that being a Britian and whenever health problem and the British Government pay all of the medical bill? Unlike the American's way. Our insurance covers around 80-90% range and even less depending on the whatever applies their coverage and we pay the remains.

Are you saying that Virgin Atlantic as part of British's government system for that pay all of the medical cost and that poor lady pay nothing but pocket $20,000 for herself to spend whatever pleases her?

Later

justin · 10-26-2002, 05:40 AM

Hi Jonh, in Britain we are required to pay National Insurance, if you are employed by a company this is 10% of salary, if you are self employed it's much less. This National Insurance pays for the health service, social welfare, disability benefits etc., so after we've paid this our health service is provided at no further charge. Exempt are dentists which we have to pay for, and we have to pay for prescriptions. So if I was to fall ill today and be rushed into hospital I'd have nothing more to pay. When people say the British have free health care that is wrong as we do pay 10% of our salary, it means it is free at the point of delivery. Many people in the world condemn it and say it's a Communist health care system, but I was born with a cleft palate and required some major surgery to reconstruct my mouth and face as a child then plastic surgery to make me look presentable which would have bankrupted my parents if they'd had to pay, and when my father had cancer he recieved medical care for a couple of years which again would have been hideously expensive, so I'm not going to attack the system. So this woman has recieved the £13,000 to compensate her for the discomfort, if she is a worker it will be to compensate for any loss of earnings as a result of having to take time off work too, but she will have no medical costs. Hence I think it's a good settlement for her.Hope this helps,

Justin

JOHN JOHNSON · 10-26-2002, 04:16 PM

This one surely would help educate us.

I, too, think it is good settlement as long all of the medical cost and etc are taken care of. However that pity psgr have $20,000 to enjoy her life. Sounds fair....

10-22-2002, 02:39 PM	#1
DeltaFlot The Patriot Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Laurel, MD Age: 36 Posts: 3,228	Woman squashed by plane passenger Woman squashed by plane passenger Tuesday, October 22, 2002 Posted: 4:17 AM EDT (0817 GMT) LONDON, England -- A woman injured while squeezed next to an obese passenger on a trans-Atlantic flight has been given £13,000 ($20,000) by the airline. Barbara Hewson, 63, was offered damages by Virgin Atlantic after suffering a blood clot, torn leg muscles and sciatica following a flight to Los Angeles in January 2001, the UK's Press Association reported. She said the woman passenger was so large she had to sit with the arm rests up, but when she complained, the crew said there was nothing they could do as the plane was full. Hewson, of Swansea, Wales, who still has medical treatment, was quoted by PA on Monday as saying: "It was never about the money. No money would pay for you having sleepless nights with the pain." The freelance writer, who travelled with her husband Roy, 67, said she spent most of her holiday in bed. "It ruined the holiday. We went out very little." Hewson added that half-way through the flight the woman asked if she was okay, saying to her: "I'm sitting on your lap." "I had three sessions of sitting in the hostess seat and I stood for a little while," added Hewson. Virgin Atlantic said in a statement: "This was an unprecedented set of extremely unfortunate circumstances. "We have apologised to Mrs Hewson and offered her compensation, which she has accepted, and we are pleased that this has now reached a conclusion." __________________ Febuary 15, 1898 December 7, 1941 June 8, 1967 September 11, 2001 Never Forget, Never Forgive If you kick the Tiger in the arse, you better be able to deal with the Tiger's teeth.

10-24-2002, 04:40 PM	#9
Airliners! Master Collector Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Valley of the Sun, Arizona Posts: 562	At 5' 10", and 230 lbs, I am not exactly skinny, but I have experienced sitting next to a 'whale' or two - not pleasant! I usually get a window seat, and have experienced being pinned in. Could not even see my inside seat rest. Once had an aisle seat - spent the flight leaning into the aisle. Was interesting when the service cart came by - I had to stand up to allow! Will be interesting to see if the airlines enforce this policy of two seats. I wonder if that means they are allowed double t6he checked baggage, double the number of carry-ons, double the meals (or what passes for meals these days!)!! __________________ Russell www.airline-hobby.com

10-24-2002, 07:24 PM	#11
9V-SVC AirBoeingBus Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Singapore Posts: 4,587	Poor lady ,at least she has quite a lot of $ to spend . __________________ My jetphotos.net photos Plane pictures.net photos Let's welcome Boeing newest product, the Boeing 7E7.

10-26-2002, 05:40 AM	#16
justin Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,005	Hi Jonh, in Britain we are required to pay National Insurance, if you are employed by a company this is 10% of salary, if you are self employed it's much less. This National Insurance pays for the health service, social welfare, disability benefits etc., so after we've paid this our health service is provided at no further charge. Exempt are dentists which we have to pay for, and we have to pay for prescriptions. So if I was to fall ill today and be rushed into hospital I'd have nothing more to pay. When people say the British have free health care that is wrong as we do pay 10% of our salary, it means it is free at the point of delivery. Many people in the world condemn it and say it's a Communist health care system, but I was born with a cleft palate and required some major surgery to reconstruct my mouth and face as a child then plastic surgery to make me look presentable which would have bankrupted my parents if they'd had to pay, and when my father had cancer he recieved medical care for a couple of years which again would have been hideously expensive, so I'm not going to attack the system. So this woman has recieved the £13,000 to compensate her for the discomfort, if she is a worker it will be to compensate for any loss of earnings as a result of having to take time off work too, but she will have no medical costs. Hence I think it's a good settlement for her.Hope this helps, Justin Last edited by justin; 10-26-2002 at 05:42 AM.

10-26-2002, 04:16 PM	#17
JOHN JOHNSON Mysterious Collector Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,196	Justin, Thank you! This one surely would help educate us. I, too, think it is good settlement as long all of the medical cost and etc are taken care of. However that pity psgr have $20,000 to enjoy her life. Sounds fair.... __________________ Who should I consider? Dumbocrat Clinton or Ruptublican Johnny Mc Cain? Jimmy Mc Donald Help me!

10-23-2002, 05:52 PM	#3
Delsterx Senior Collector Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Victoria BC Age: 33 Posts: 291	I think if you are over a certain size you should be forced to pay for two seats. why should healthy people suffer for the over indulgence of fat phucks?

10-23-2002, 06:14 PM	#4
Starliner Senior Collector Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Norman OK USA Posts: 452	Just further proof the era of the Zeppelin and airship is FAR from over

10-23-2002, 09:09 PM	#5
Piston 52 Heavy Master Collector Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 755	Shouldn't living things of that size be at Sea World?

10-24-2002, 12:34 PM	#7
Delsterx Senior Collector Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Victoria BC Age: 33 Posts: 291	Word to your fat mother!

10-24-2002, 04:24 PM	#8
Romania is #1 Guest Posts: n/a	I feel sorry for the lady that was injured. I say see should have free travel on Virgin for life

10-24-2002, 05:55 PM	#10
Starliner Senior Collector Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Norman OK USA Posts: 452	I guess these "Large Marge" pax redefine the term "Stratotanker."

10-25-2002, 08:23 AM	#12
Stanman Senior Collector Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Waxahachie, Texas, USA Posts: 426	US$20,000 is not a lot of money if she actually had a blood clot, torn leg muscles, and sciatica. If she was treated in the US the costs of her first visit alone would probably amount to that much not to mention the subsequent follow-up visits for sciatica which can last a lifetime. However being in England she does have National Health which is plus/minus. They'll probably give her a Tylenol and tell her to grin and bear it. Interesting about the Canadian ruling. I'm still waiting for someone to challenge the new Southwest Airlines rules regarding obese passengers required to buy a second seat. My guess is that unless the plane is overbooked, Southwest would be reluctant to enforce the rule. The rule is fair though stating that the passenger will get a refund if the plane is not full. Intersting flight I had from SFO to DFW on UA on an A320. One passenger required oxygen for the flight so they put an oxygen bottle in the overhead and duct taped an oxygen line down to the passenger seat. First time I've seen that.

10-25-2002, 05:24 PM	#13
justin Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,005	In the UK £13,000 is a pretty good settlement and seems very fair to me. Her medical costs are covered by national insurance so she won't have any medical bills. I think the world have gone litigation crazy with ridiculous court causes and bizarre damage awards which just ends up causing all sorts of problems. Justin

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