Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Sues Stumptown Coffee After Being Burned by Exploding Coffee Packaging Mid-Flight

According to court documents, at least nine other flight attendants had been burned in similar incidents before Waldron’s injury. The Association of Flight Attendants union and Waldron’s attorneys allege Stumptown Coffee failed to design, test, or validate its packaging for use at high altitudes. “When the packaging interacted with the existing onboard coffee makers, the result was explosive failure and serious injury,” the lawsuit states. The suit further alleges that Alaska Airlines notified Stumptown of the complaints no later than 20 February 2024 and that the company failed to take corrective action.

Alaska Airlines and Stumptown announced their partnership in October 2023, replacing Starbucks as the carrier’s onboard coffee brand. The lawsuit notes that prior to December 2023, Alaska served Starbucks coffee without similar reported issues.

The suit does not specify a monetary amount but requests a jury trial and seeks damages covering physical pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, medical expenses, and lost earnings.