Plane seat accident 'ruined holiday'

Emily had to spent much of her holiday in a wheelchair

A little girl spent the first week of a family holiday in a wheelchair, after her foot was trapped in a reclining aeroplane seat.

Emily Sutton had to have emergency treatment in the US after the accident, on a Virgin Atlantic flight to Florida.

A spokeswoman for the airline told BBC News Online: "We were of course very sorry to hear that Miss Sutton sustained an injury on board one of our flights and that her holiday was affected as a result."

But she said Virgin Atlantic would not be accepting liability, after an investigation found the seat was working and complied with industry regulations.

Last week Virgin paid out £13,000 (US$20,289) to a woman, after she was permanently injured by an obese passenger who sat next to her.

'Nightmare'

Emily's father, Peter, said he had exchanged a string of letters with the airline and that he was seeking independent advice.

Emily had to be pushed around by her family

"It was the sort of holiday you plan for two years and when that happens 40 minutes into the flight it is a bit of a nightmare," he said.

"My daughter was in a wheelchair for the first week of our holiday.

"They accepted no liability whatsoever."

Nursing

Mr Sutton and his wife Michelle, from Anstey in Leicestershire, had paid £6,500 to take their three children Jack, 11, Harry, three and Emily to Disney World in Florida.

But less than an hour into the flight from Gatwick on 21 May the accident happened.

Emily was given nursing care on the flight, but had to be taken to hospital on arrival in Orlando, in the US.

There she had a toenail removed, was put on antibiotics and had to spend a week in a wheelchair.

'Goodwill gesture'

Medical expenses for Emily's treatment were paid for by their insurers.

Confirming that it would not accept liability, Virgin Atlantic said it did not feel "responsible for the injury itself, but fully appreciate how disappointing it must have been for the family".

The spokeswoman added: "As a gesture of goodwill we are making the family an offer and are hopeful we can bring this matter to an end."