British Airways Sued After Falling Bottle Left Sleeping Woman With Lasting Eye Damage

A British Airways passenger is suing the airline after a metal water bottle fell from an overhead locker onto her during a flight from Frankfurt Airport to London Heathrow in August 2024, leaving her with lasting eye damage. The Kentucky resident, 53-year-old Adrea Stendel, alleges ongoing chronic visual sequelae, including exophoria and misalignment in convergence. She says the bottle hit her head while she was allegedly sleeping in her aisle seat, lacerating her scalp and leading to a concussion. Her complaint also cites potential issues with the overhead bin’s retention barriers and claims the crew did not provide adequate assistance or complete the incident report they said they would. The case was reported by The Independent.