Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

A nine-year-old boy who was scolded on the face and shoulders by hot coffee during a flight from Cairo to Vienna has been given 40,000 EUR compensation.

The accident happened on an Egyptian airline which was not named but has its headquarters in London and which agreed to the settlement without the matter going to court after a ruling by the European Court of Justice in a similar case.

That incident which happened in 2015 involved a girl who was burned on the legs when coffee fell off one of the trays mounted on the back of the seat and landed on her legs. The airline claimed that any accidents that happen as a result of passenger care should be regarded as accidents – which her parents refused to accept.

However the European Court of Justice agreed with the parents, and ordered an unspecified amount of compensation. In the wake of that ruling, the Egyptian airline has now negotiated a settlement with lawyers for the boy who reportedly had to spend three weeks at the Vienna Gen Hospital after the accident.

The deal was negotiated by the Arabic speaking Vienna-based lawyer Farid Rifaat who is currently on holiday and unavailable for comment.

Local media have reported that the 40,000 EUR (33,931 GBP) had already been transferred to the parents of the injured child.

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