A London court has blocked an attempt by victims of "economy class syndrome" to sue airlines over claims that cramped seating on long-haul flights gave them potentially deadly blood clots.
In a ruling with important implications for airlines world-wide, the High Court said blood clots did not constitute an "accident" under the Warsaw Convention. The 1929 treaty makes airlines liable for damages only in the case of an accident.
The decision, which ran counter to a ruling made earlier today in a similar case in Australia, was based on the judge, Robert Nelson's, reasoning that an "accident" was an unexpected and unusual event "external to the passenger".
"There was no unexpected or unusual event or happening," the judge said.
Victims have until January 28th to appeal the decision.