Passenger sues British Airways after being hit on head by falling rucksack

'I saw stars': Wayne Herbert was hit by a falling bag

A plane passenger is suing British Airways after he was injured by a bag falling from an overhead compartment.

Wayne Herbert, 45, a writer from north London, suffered “searing pain” when a fellow traveller’s bag hit him in the head as he sat waiting to take off.

He claims he “saw stars” when the rucksack, containing a laptop, smashed into his head and neck, causing whiplash injuries.

He was taken off the US-bound plane on October 28 and assessed by a paramedic, but was not taken to hospital.

Mr Herbert told the Standard he still has anxiety following the “traumatic” incident. He has now instructed solicitors after receiving what he branded a “derisory” compensation offer, first of air miles and then of £500.

He said: “Passengers sitting in the row behind were trying to load too much luggage into the overhead and dropped a bag on my head. It bashed me on the top of my head, and has given me a whiplash injury.

“I was offloaded, based on BA’s telephone medical advice, and flew the following day. But they have been awful in sorting this out for me, and I’m now taking legal action. They also did little to help me get home comfortably.”

Mr Herbert, from Crouch End, was travelling to America to work on his novel, but said the injury meant he struggled to sit at a computer.

He criticised BA’s policy of allowing passengers to take large pieces of hand luggage on to planes. He added: “I’m still suffering anxiety — this is an ongoing injury. The staff certainly were not checking what people were doing and I’m suffering as a result.”

Last month a man was seriously injured on a British Airways flight bound for Bangkok when a bag fell on his head with a “terrible sound”. Witnesses said the overhead locker “suddenly burst open” and a heavy-duty bag landed on his head. The man collapsed and was taken to hospital.

The maximum weight for a piece of hand luggage allowed by BA is 23kg (51lb) and passengers must be able to lift it into the overhead lockers.

A BA spokesman said: “Our cabin crew gave every possible help to our customer and we are still in contact with him to resolve this issue.”

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