A former flight attendant for Singapore Airlines, Durairaj Santiran, has filed a lawsuit against the carrier seeking $1.3 million in damages. Santiran alleges that the airline failed to provide a safe working environment, resulting in a career-ending injury sustained during a 17-hour flight in 2019.

Santiran stated in an appearance before Singapore’s High Court that a grease patch on the aircraft caused him to slip and strike his head. He claims that the cervical disc prolapse he was diagnosed with after the incident kept him from carrying out his duties as a member of the cabin crew.

The legal team representing Singapore Airlines contests Santiran’s story, casting doubt on the existence of the alleged grease patch and arguing that the fall happened in a different area of the aircraft. The airline makes a point of actively challenging claims that are judged to be fraudulent or invalid while upholding its commitment to satisfying valid ones.

According to Santiran, the incident took place on an Airbus A350 flight from San Francisco to Singapore, approximately two hours before landing.In seeking $1.3 million in compensation, Santiran’s claim primarily encompasses losses in future earnings and medical expenses resulting from the diagnosed cervical disc prolapse.

In response, Singapore Airlines’ legal team disputed these allegations, claiming that Santiran fell in a different area of the aircraft and that there was no proof of a grease patch. Furthermore, it was disclosed that Santiran had previously filed work injury claims in 2017 and 2018, which the airline had acknowledged in their opening statement but had not contested. Over the next ten days, his lawsuit’s proceedings will take place.