It was supposed to be a routine flight home for a Utah family. Instead, it ended with screams of pain, burned skin, and a federal lawsuit.
Southwest Airlines is facing heat after a 4-year-old boy was badly burned mid-flight when a flight attendant allegedly spilled scalding hot coffee on him. The child’s parents, Ryan and Kamrie Wong, have taken the airline to court, saying their son—referred to only as K.W. in legal filings—suffered second-degree burns on his backside during a trip from Orlando to Salt Lake City on September 19, 2024.
According to the lawsuit filed in Chicago, a flight attendant maneuvered through the cabin with a tray of drinks balanced on one arm. As she passed the family’s row, she reportedly extended the tray directly over K.W., tipping the coffee and dousing the child in piping hot liquid.
The boy screamed in agony—“It’s so hot!”—as the coffee soaked through his clothing and scorched his skin. The parents claim that instead of receiving urgent care or even an apology, they were met with indifference.
Medical help was finally provided during a layover in Chicago, but that only worsened the ordeal. A gate agent allegedly forced the injured boy to sit directly on his burns, intensifying his pain. On the connecting flight back to Salt Lake City, the Wongs say flight attendants remained cold and offered no further assistance.
Now, their once-fearless little flyer is terrified of planes. The burns left more than just scars—they’ve impacted his ability to sit comfortably, attend school without discomfort, and feel confident around his peers.
The Wongs are seeking unspecified damages, calling out the airline’s negligence and the lack of basic compassion shown during and after the incident. Their legal team emphasized one core message: “Airlines need to do better.”
This isn’t the first time boiling beverages have landed airlines in court. Just months ago, a Washington state woman sued Delta after a similar incident left her injured when coffee spilled from a tilted tray table.
Southwest, for now, hasn’t commented on the case—Wong et al v. Southwest Airlines Co., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
One family’s flight home turned into a nightmare, and the scars may linger far longer than the jet lag.
