Passenger Injured by Obese Fellow Flyer, Suit Claims

A plane passenger who flew British Airways from Bangkok to London nearly three years ago is now suing the airline over claims being seated beside an obese person has left with him lasting physical injuries. Per USA Today, Stephen Prosser told UK court officials that he was on a January 2016 flight when British Airways seated him next to a man who had "his knees wedged against the seat in front and the rest of his body was over spilling into my seat by some inches." Prosser said the awkward situation forced him into an "unnatural posture" that he claims left him with a back spasm and injury to his pelvis in the wake of the 12-hour flight.

What's more, CNN reports that Prosser claims he had to visit a chiropractor for two years following the flight and that he had to limit how much he worked for several months. Prosser says his complaints were ignored by the British Airways crew, who said the flight was full and he could not be moved. In a statement, the airline said it is "resisting the claim" but did not elaborate because "the case is subject to ongoing proceedings." (Earlier this month, an American Airlines flight attendant filed a federal lawsuit over claims she was attacked by a fellow crew member and the incident was never properly addressed by the company.)