Vistara Summoned By Delhi HC: The Delhi High Court recently summoned Vistara airline in connection with a plea wherein a couple has sought nearly Rs 2.7 crore in damages for second-degree burns suffered by their 10-year-old daughter after a hot beverage was allegedly spilled on her by a cabin crew member during a flight operated by the carrier from Delhi to Germany’s Frankfurt, news agency IANS reported on Friday.
The incident reportedly took place on August 11, 2023. While hearing the matter on January 9, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani issued summons to Tata Sons-owned Vistara, seeking its response on the suit within a month. “Let the summons indicate that the defendant is required to file written statement to the plaint within 30 days from the date of receipt of summons, alongwith affidavit of admission/denial of the documents filed by the plaintiffs,” the court said.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 6. In their plea, the parents of the minor girl have alleged that negligence by a air hostess caused their daughter to sustain “grave second-degree burns on her thighs and adjoining areas”. The plaintiff has claimed that the said air hostess was handling two hot beverages, including one ordered by their child, at once when she allegedly spilled one of them on their daughter.
The minor’s family has claimed damages in the sum of Rs 2,68,93,077 against the respondent on account of bodily injuries sustained by the girl alongwith medical expenses incurred in Frankfurt and other consequential reliefs. In its suit, the parents of the minor girl have claimed that Vistara tried to pin the blame for the incident on their daughter.
The plaintiff has disputed the airlines version wherein the mishap was attributed to “the child’s playful behaviour”, legal news outlet Bar and Bench said in its report. Instead of taking responsibilty for the “negligent and reckless acts of its employees and extending support to the family”, Vistara “issued a statement on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) from its official account, confirming the incident but falsely attributing the blame for the incident upon the child”, says the plaintiff’s submission.
(With inputs from IANS)