Qantas fights lawsuit from passenger who fell down airport stairs
Roy Van der Meer sued Qantas after falling on stairs at Sydney Airport without holding the handrail.
Van der Meer slipped on metal stairs at the Qantas domestic terminal at Sydney Airport on December 7, 2024, while heading to a flight to Albury. Roy Van der Meer claimed the uncovered stairs were wet.
Qantas produced security footage showing the stairs were covered by a canopy. Video also showed him holding his suitcase in his right hand with his left hand free, despite a sign telling passengers to hold the rail.
The airline said it warned passengers over the public address system and stationed a worker at the base of the stairs. A Qantas representative said the worker saw him lose control of his luggage and miss the handrail before falling.
The airline says his injuries were caused by his own actions. The case returns to NSW District Court on October 28.
- December 7, 2024
- Date of incident
- Sydney Airport, Qantas domestic terminal
- Location
- Albury
- Destination
- October 28
- Court return date
Why it mattersThe dispute hinges on whether airlines must protect against passenger negligence or if passengers bear responsibility for following safety instructions.
AustraliaThe outcome could affect how Australian airlines handle liability for passenger injuries at Australian airports.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 41 min ago
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