Three British Airways crew members have sued the airline for more than £100,000 after battling to help passengers escape from a plane fire.
Marie Dyos, Lynette Robinson and Suely Goncalves-McLoughlin sued BA because they've suffered post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the blaze.
They were on duty when one of the Boeing 777's engines burst into flames at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, in September 2015.
It was bound for Gatwick Airport but the pilot had to execute an emergency evacuation.
And City of London Court today heard the cabin crew members dashed to make passengers safe as black smoke billowed from a wing. They remained onboard until all passengers had left.
But the lawyers allege negligence by BA in "failing to follow the engine fire checklist," leading to 97 gallons of fuel spilling onto the runway and allegedly feeding the fire. They say the captain was also at fault.
Judge Stephen Hellman QC ruled against BA.
Ms Robinson, 42, had opened a door on the right hand side of the plane, but the escape chute was unusable due to the blast from the still-running right engine.
Martin Haukeland, representing the women, said Ms Robinson, of Peacehaven, East Sussex, is now haunted by nightmares and flashbacks and remains "anxious and hyper vigilant".
"She is undergoing further treatment and a final prognosis awaits this.
The current view is that the prognosis is poor," the lawyer told the court. Ms Robinson claimed £40,000.
Miss Goncalves-McLoughlin also opened a door on the right side of the plane to release the escape chute and hurt her ear and eyes.
Mr Haukeland added: "When she looked out, her eyes were exposed to high velocity particles thrown up by the still running right-hand engine."
The woman, from St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, also suffers from PTSD, is plagued by intrusive memories, and remains socially withdrawn and hyper-vigilant, the lawyer added. Miss Goncalves-McLoughlin got £40,000.
Mrs Dyos, of Horley, Surrey, has since continued to work for BA, but is struggling to cope with symptoms of her PTSD, the court heard. She claimed £30,000.
She is undergoing treatment for her anxiety, and although currently able to carry on, the future of her chosen career remains unclear.
"The prognosis - for her principal symptom of anxiety - is poor and she will probably be unable to continue in her current work as cabin crew," Mr Haukeland explained.
But BA denies all blame.
All the passengers survived the fire but 20 were injured, mostly when exiting the plane by the escape chutes.
Defence lawyers dispute the crew failed to follow the engine fire checklist and also deny the pilot was to blame in ordering evacuation before shutting down the right engine.
The case reached court in a pre-trial clash as British Airways tried to block the women's claims from going ahead in the UK.
Lucy Wyles, barrister for the airline, pointed out that all three have settled separate lawsuits brought against The Boeing Company and GE Aviation Systems LLC in the United States.
In the US case - settled in 2016 - Miss Goncalves-McLoughlin received $45,000 (£34,000), while Ms Robinson and Mrs Dyos each walked away with $35,000 (£26,000).
The three women have made clear they accept that any UK award will have to give credit for their US settlement pay-outs, the court heard.
Their barrister said they had accepted the US settlement on the understanding that they could still sue BA in the English courts, and receive full compensation for all their psychiatric injuries.
"I always had the intention of pursuing British Airways," Ms Robinson told the court.
"I feel that the settlement was too little. At the time I was not aware that I would be experiencing ongoing symptoms that would be with me in every aspect of my life.
"I could not predict then what I am now feeling.
"Nobody could have gauged what my psychological injuries were and how they would deteriorate."
A spokesman for BA said: "The safety and welfare of our colleagues and customers is always our priority.
"As legal action is on-going, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
