Singapore Airlines sues for $1.3 million after flight attendant slipped and hit her head on flight from San Francisco

A former Singapore Airlines flight attendant is suing Singapore Airlines for $1.3 million, accusing the company of failing to provide a safe working environment and causing career-ending injuries.

Durailaj Santilan, 36, appeared on Tuesday. SingaporeHe told the High Court that during a 17-hour flight in 2019, he slipped on a grease patch on the plane and hit his head, according to local media reports.

According to Singapore’s daily The Straits Times, Mr Durailaj was diagnosed with a prolapsed cervical disc after the flight and said he was ultimately unable to continue working as a flight attendant.

According to the newspaper, Durairaj worked as a flight attendant for Singapore Airlines from April 2016 to April 2021.

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Durairaj told the court that the incident occurred while he was working on an Airbus A350 flight from San Francisco to Singapore about two hours before it was scheduled to land, according to a local television station. CNA.

According to CNA, Durairaj first noticed a 3-inch speck of colorless grease in the economy class section as the plane was about to depart from San Francisco.

According to CNA, Durairaj said he told a senior flight attendant about it and was instructed to wipe the patch with disinfectant and paper towels, but failed.

After informing his superiors that the patch was still there, the crew tried to clean it again, but were unable to remove it, Durairaj said.

Singapore Airlines has disputed Durairaj Santiran’s claims. Photo: Getty Images — Singapore Airlines disputed Mr Durairaj Santillan’s claims.Photo: Getty Images

Later, as the plane approached Singapore, Durairaj slipped on oil and hit his head on the floor, after which he had to be escorted off the plane in a wheelchair, CNA said.

In their opening statement, Durairaj’s lawyers Ramasamy Chettiar and Kasturibai Manickam said, “If proper care had been taken, the grease patch would have been removed or access to the dangerous area would have been prevented. Measures would have been taken to prevent it.”

In one example, lawyers said a flight attendant may have rolled a wheelbarrow over a grease patch, according to CNA.

Durairaj’s team said it is seeking $1.3 million in damages, primarily for loss of future income and medical expenses.

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According to The Straits Times, Singapore Airlines’ lawyers disputed Durairaj’s claims, saying there was no such grease patch and that Durairaj had fallen onto another part of the aircraft.

According to the Straits Times, Singapore Airlines’ legal team said Durailaj filed separate industrial compensation cases in 2017 and 2018, but the airline did not contest.

His legal proceedings are expected to take place over the next 10 days.

Singapore Airlines’ media team and Durairat’s lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.

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