WARNING, GRAPHIC PHOTOS: A Ryanair passenger has recounted about a horrifying accident during a flight led her to suffer second-degree burns
Christopher Sharp Trendswatch Reporter
06:30, 12 Mar 2026
Susan Martin(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
A Ryanair traveller has issued a stark warning following an onboard incident that left her with serious second-degree burns, stating she is now “scarred for life”.
Susan Martin, 69, was aboard a flight from Bournemouth to Malta with her husband Billy Martin, 63, when the episode occurred. Yet, just 20 minutes into the journey, catastrophe struck when the lid of her tea cup detached, causing scalding water to pour onto her lap.
The episode left the grandmother-of-10 with agonising burns across her upper thighs, groin region, and lower abdomen. Images of the affected area reveal the skin appearing raw and blistered where the beverage contacted her body.
Susan described the ordeal during the three-hour flight as leaving her “hyperventilating”. The Ryanair cabin crew attempted to administer iced water and cooling gel packs to begin treating the burns immediately, reports the Mirror.
Susan Martin(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
Recounting the moments leading up to the incident, Susan, from Weymouth, Dorset, explained: “It said to order drinks on the app so my husband ordered us a coffee and a tea and they brought the drink out.”
“I had tea so it was just hot water with a teabag in it. It was a large cup. They put it on the drink tray and whether I knocked the tray or whether the steam popped the lid off, we don’t really know what happened, it just all happened so quickly.”
Susan continued that as the scalding water spilled over her she began “screaming” and “hyperventilating” as she entered a state of “shock” and subsequently started trembling.
Susan’s burns on her stomach and right thigh(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
She recounted: “I was in shock as it was scalding water. The water came straight out of the water vessel at the back of the plane. They took me into the hold at the back. I took my trousers off and they were pouring cold water on me.
“She got the first aid box out and put gel packs and cream on me and kept changing them as they were getting warm really quickly. My legs had already started to blister. I was in shock and I was shaking.”
Susan has since claimed that the water causing the burns originated directly from the rear of the aircraft, rather than the customary trolley, which she believes explains its extreme temperature.
She elaborated: “I think the water was too hot as it was scalding hot. It shouldn’t have been that hot. It was an unfortunate accident and the lid shouldn’t have come off the cup. If the water comes out of the insulated jug on the drinks trolley, the drinks are never that hot.”
Susan’s bandaged burns(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
Upon landing in Malta, Susan was immediately rushed to hospital via ambulance where her burns were treated, she was administered IV antibiotics, and her dressings were changed daily.
In light of her distressing ordeal, Susan has urged others to exercise caution when ordering hot beverages on flights and to ensure their drink lids are securely fastened.
She revealed: “I got second degree burns on my right upper thigh and lower abdomen and first degree burns to the left of the thigh and genital area.
Susan’s burns on her stomach and right thigh whilst healing(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
“Can you imagine if that had been a young mother with a child or a baby on her lap. That would have been horrendous. I would hate anyone else to go through what I have been through and I’m still paranoid about hot drinks.”
Upon returning to the UK, Susan underwent regular medical check-ups and dressing changes for her burns over a six week period. She also stated that she is now unable to expose herself to sunlight and must keep her scars concealed.
She explained: “I am scarred and I have to apply cream every day to keep the scar moist. I’m not allowed to go in the sun and for the rest of my life I have to keep it [the scars] covered. I do still have flashbacks and I think I always will. I have stopped drinking hot drinks since this has happened.”
Ryanair has been contacted for comment.