A 61-year-old former business executive is pursuing more than £50,000 in compensation from British Airways (BA) after sustaining serious hand injuries (“a 15mm scar on his left ring finger, and an 18mm scar on his left little finger“) caused by a hidden sharp object inside his seat during a transatlantic flight in 2023.
Andrew Chesterton, of Chelmsford, Essex, previously chief operating officer at financial services firm Bravura Solutions, alleges that the incident left him with lasting physical impairment, including reduced grip strength, persistent nerve sensitivity, and visible scarring, alongside ongoing psychological distress.
The airline has already accepted liability under the provisions of the Montreal Convention, which governs airline responsibility in international carriage cases. However, it is disputing the scale of damages being claimed and argues that compensation should not extend to psychiatric injury, which it says falls outside the treaty’s scope of “bodily injury”, Metro reported.
British Airways’ Incident Aboard the London–Cincinnati Service
Court filings submitted by Chesterton’s legal representative, barrister Jessica Muurman, outline the sequence of events on 24 September 2023 during a London Heathrow Airport to Cincinnati service. British Airways generally deploys its Boeing 787 Dreamliners or its Boeing 777s for this service.
Here’s a look at the carrier’s fleet of these types:
| Aircraft Type | In Service | Parked | Total | Average Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | 10 | 2 | 12 | 10.9 Years |
| Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | 17 | 1 | 18 | 9.9 Years |
| Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner | 10 | 2 | 12 | 3.8 Years |
| Boeing 777-200 | 41 | 2 | 43 | 26.1 Years |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 16 | — | 16 | 11.6 Years |
Chesterton, seated in 1A, reportedly reached into the side of his seat when his left hand came into contact with an unidentified sharp object concealed within the seat structure. The object sliced the ring finger and little finger of his left hand.
Cabin crew responded immediately, providing first aid to control bleeding for the remainder of the flight. On arrival in Cincinnati, he was transferred to hospital where clinicians cleaned the wounds and administered 11 stitches in total—four to the ring finger and seven to the little finger.
His ring finger stayed painful and unusually sensitive for five months following the injury, and the laceration on his little finger subsequently developed an infection that required antibiotic treatment.
Chesterson’s Ongoing Medical Complications Include Hypersensitivity
Medical records submitted to the court indicate that Chesterton’s recovery has been prolonged and complex. His ring finger remained highly sensitive for several months, while the little finger later developed an infection requiring antibiotics.
He has also undergone multiple physiotherapy sessions in an attempt to restore mobility and strength. Despite treatment, the filings state he continues to experience stiffness, hypersensitivity, and a measurable reduction in grip function in his left hand.
According to the words of his barrister Jessica Muurman quoted in The Independent:
While the claimant’s ability to mobilise his fingers increased during the initial recovery period, the claimant suffers ongoing problems of hypersensitivity, stiffness and reduced grip strength in his left little finger.
British Airways Passenger is Also Having Nightmares
Beyond the physical injuries, Chesterton’s claim describes significant disruption to daily life. He was reportedly unable to drive for around two months following the incident, affecting both his routine and social activities. His legal team also argues that the experience has had a continuing psychological impact, including distressing recollections of the event:
He developed anxiety about participating in social activities, avoiding events such as sports games and concerts, for fear of his fingers being knocked for approximately three months. …The claimant was prescribed sleeping tablets at the end of October 2023 as he was having nightmares and struggling to sleep post-accident.
According to the defence position, however, compensation for mental injury is not recoverable under the Montreal Convention unless directly tied to physical harm in a narrowly defined sense.
The case is now expected to proceed to a full assessment of damages unless a settlement is reached between the parties outside of court.