Lawyer Sues Emirates Airlines After Sitting Next To An Obese Man On Flight

An Italian who used to work at the Italian Consulate in South Africa is suing Emirate airlines for making him suffer a nine hour flight to Italy after he complained about his two other passengers who were unnecessarily fat spilled themselves all over the seats that he was uncomfortable.

Giorgio Destro claims his flight from Cape Town to Dubai was ruined by an overweight passenger whose body “spilled” into his seat on the Boeing 777.

The lawyer, from the Italian city of Padua, said he suffered throughout the flight last July and was told by cabin crew he could not change seats because the flight was fully booked, Italian newspaper Mattino Padova reported.

“For nine hours I had to stand in the aisle, sit on seats reserved for the cabin crew when they were free and in the final phase of flight resign myself to suffer the ‘spillover’ of the passenger at my side,” he told the newspaper in comments translated by The Local .

He is taking the Dubai-based, state-owned airline to court demanding just under £2,400 in compensation. Destro, who was flying to Venice via Dubai, also wants the airline to refund his £655 ticket and pay an additional £1,700 in damages.

A spokesperson for Emirates said: “Emirates is unable to comment on this particular case as it is an ongoing legal matter.”