Patient sues Cathay Pacific for negligence after falling from stretcher on plane
Medical repatriation service user seeks compensation for injuries sustained on aircraft from Hong Kong to Singapore
A patient who fell from a stretcher onto the floor of a Cathay Pacific Airways plane has sued the airline for negligence and breach of duty of care.
In a claim filed at the High Court on Monday, Luk Fung-yee said the incident had taken place on January 24, 2015.
Luk, who was using a medical repatriation service, was transferred by stretcher on board the plane from Hong Kong to Singapore, according to the court document.
The claimant is seeking an unspecified amount in compensation for personal injuries allegedly suffered as a result of the accident.
Luk cited the Montreal Convention and claimed that Cathay Pacific should be responsible for the acts and omissions of its ground handling agent in Singapore and of its ground staff, who had been involved in the transfer.
Luk also sued AIA International – the repatriation service provider under an insurance contract – for negligence and breach of contract.
The firms subcontracted to provide the ambulance and stretcher transfer service were named as co-defendants in the claim.
The Montreal Convention is a multilateral treaty involving rules for international carriage of passengers, baggage and cargo by air, and dealing with issues such as compensation and damages. Hong Kong put the convention into force in 2006.
