Southwest Airlines is being sued by a couple who say their young son suffered second-degree burns after hot coffee was spilled on him during a flight.
Ryan and Kamrie Wong filed the lawsuit in Chicago on Wednesday. Reuters reported that their son, known as K.W. in the suit, is four years old.
The family was flying from Orlando to Chicago last September when a Southwest flight attendant was “precariously” carrying a drinks tray with one arm, the suit stated.
It adds that a coffee then spilled on the boy, who screamed, “It’s so hot!”
The child was crying and screaming, suffering second-degree burns to his buttocks, per the suit.
It also claimed that the flight attendants were unapologetic and unsure how to treat the boy’s injuries.
“K.W. was in significant, visible, and vocal pain and distress throughout the rest of the flight,” the complaint added.
After landing in Chicago, the family then had to wait for another flight to Utah, where they live.
The lawsuit says a Southwest gate agent made the situation worse by placing K.W. directly on his buttocks, which caused one of his burn blisters to burst.
Among other activities, the complaint adds that K.W. has had difficulties sitting in his car seat, using the bathroom, and getting dressed since the incident.
The boy is said to have missed about two weeks of preschool due to the pain and treatment for his burns.
“When K.W. did return to school, he struggled to sit for extended periods of time,” the suit stated.
The Wongs accused Southwest Airlines of negligence and were seeking unspecified damages in excess of $75,000.
Southwest told Business Insider it did not comment on pending litigation.
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