Pregnant Flight Attendant Files Lawsuit After Coffee Maker Explosion Causes Severe Burns
A pregnant Alaska Airlines flight attendant has filed a civil lawsuit against coffee supplier Stumptown Coffee Corp after suffering severe thermal burns when a coffee maker exploded during a flight. The incident occurred on April 1, 2024, aboard a flight bound for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, approximately thirty minutes before landing.
Catastrophic Failure During Routine Brewing
According to court documents filed on March 27 in the Western District of Washington at Seattle, flight attendant Victoria Waldron was preparing a custom Stumptown coffee blend designed for consumption at altitude when the onboard coffee maker in the aircraft galley failed catastrophically without warning. The equipment expelled scalding hot coffee, boiling water, and coffee grounds with explosive force, striking Waldron directly.
The lawsuit states that Waldron sustained immediate and severe thermal burns to her chest and other areas of her body, causing extreme pain and prompting fears for her unborn child. The injuries have resulted in permanent scarring and a persistent heat-triggered rash that requires ongoing dermatological treatment, with potential cosmetic surgery needed in the future.
Allegations of Defective Packaging and Failure to Warn
Waldron's attorneys argue that Stumptown Coffee Corp supplied Alaska Airlines with a defective product and failed to warn of known risks. The civil complaint specifically alleges that Stumptown inadequately tested its packaging for the low-pressure environment of aircraft cabins, despite the blend being marketed for in-flight use.
The lawsuit claims that packaging designed for sea level behaves dangerously when combined with the unique heat cycles of commercial brewing equipment on planes. This alleged defect became apparent shortly after Alaska Airlines began using Stumptown's blend on December 1, 2023, replacing their previous Starbucks product.
Multiple Incidents and Lack of Corrective Action
Court documents reveal that the Association of Flight Attendants published a statement on February 20, 2024, noting that at least nine flight attendants had been burned by exploding coffee on Alaska Airlines flights since the switch to Stumptown's blend. The AFA statement explicitly identified Stumptown's packaging as the suspected cause of these injuries.
Despite these warnings and multiple incidents occurring within three months of the product's implementation, the lawsuit alleges that Stumptown took no corrective action, issued no warnings to Alaska Airlines, recalled no product, and continued supplying the same packaging without modification.
Legal Proceedings and Damages Sought
The civil complaint demands a trial by jury and seeks damages exceeding $75,000 to cover Waldron's physical pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost earnings, emotional distress, and legal fees. The lawsuit emphasizes that the injuries were preventable given the numerous warning signs about the product's dangerous tendencies.
Stumptown Coffee Corp has declined to comment on the allegations, and no formal response has yet been filed in court. The case highlights significant concerns about product safety testing for specialized aviation environments and corporate responsibility when potential defects become apparent through user injuries.
