A woman was scalded by boiling tea on a Ryanair flight due to a loose lid, causing severe burns and lasting trauma.

A 69-year-old woman, Susan Martin, suffered second-degree burns to her lap during a Ryanair flight from Bournemouth to Malta in March 2026 when the lid of her tea cup detached, spilling boiling water from a rear-mounted jug. The scald, which affected her upper thighs, groin, and lower abdomen, caused severe pain, hyperventilation, and lasting trauma. Crew applied ice and gel packs during the three-hour flight, and she was hospitalized in Malta, requiring IV antibiotics and daily dressing changes. Martin, now scarred and avoiding sun exposure, continues to experience flashbacks and has stopped drinking hot beverages. She warns travelers to secure lids and urges airlines to review hot drink safety.