A major lawsuit has been filed against Scandinavian Airlines after a retired New Yorker, 78-year-old Aymara Corbo of Queens, sustained severe burn when a flight attendant allegedly spilled an extremely hot cup of coffee on her during an April 2024 flight. Corbo is now pursuing $10 million in damages, claiming extensive pain, visible scarring, and lasting emotional distress
According to court documents, Flight SK 1464 departed from Copenhagen to Oslo on April 3, 2024, with the beverage service commencing around 10 a.m. local time. It was during this routine service that a crew member reportedly handed Ms. Corbo an “excessively hot” cup of coffee, which subsequently toppled and caused a scalding spill. The plaintiff alleges the hot liquid landed on her lap, inflicting severe burn that led to intense physical pain, suffering, scarring, and cosmetic deformity
Corbo’s lawsuit highlights that the incident didn’t only result in physical injuries—it severely affected her emotional well-being and enjoyment of life. She reports enduring “mental anguish” and a permanent impact on appearance and mobility. The complaint states she was largely confined to their accommodation for more than two weeks, deferring what was intended to be a dream vacation and cruise around the British Isles .
Joining her in legal action, her husband Giuseppe, age 86 and former New York City Housing Authority employee, has filed a separate $1 million claim. He asserts losses tied to “loss of his wife’s services, society and consortium,” along with wider financial hardships stemming from the incident
In an effort to maximize possible compensation, Corbo’s legal representation is calling for the court to overturn typical liability caps imposed under international aviation agreements, including the Warsaw Convention, the Montreal Convention, and the IATA Inter-Carrier Agreement. If successful, this would make Scandinavian Airlines fully liable for the requested $10 million in damages, exclusive of legal costs and accrued interest.
The case has drawn parallels to the landmark 1992 McDonald’s hot-coffee lawsuit, where 79-year-old Stella Liebeck won significant punitive and compensatory damages after enduring third-degree burn from coffee spillage in her lap. The suit revolutionized public discourse around product liability and tort reform.
As of now, Scandinavian Airlines has not publicly responded or issued a statement regarding the lawsuit or the allegations. Multiple requests for comment by media outlets have reportedly gone unanswered. This silence has drawn criticism, given the serious nature of the injuries and the victim’s reliance on the airline’s in-flight safety measures
The case renews public scrutiny over airline safety protocols—particularly during in-flight service. It raises questions about crew training, fuel temperatures deemed “acceptable,” and how airlines manage risk when serving hot liquids in the confined and potentially turbulent cabin environment. The lawsuit suggests this may be a lingering yet under-examined oversight in standard aviation safety procedures
Corbo’s legal team, led by attorney Jonathan Reiter, is pressing for expedited court review to remove statutory compensation ceilings and open the door to full reimbursement for medical expenses, pain and suffering, ongoing care needs, and punitive damages. It remains to be seen how the airline will respond now that litigation has officially begun.
