KATHMANDU — In a historic verdict, Nepal's Consumer Court has ordered international carrier Qatar Airways to pay NPR 26.2 million (approximately $196,000 USD) in compensation to a Nepali passenger who suffered severe burns from a hot beverage during a flight.

​The decision, handed down on Thursday by the dedicated consumer tribunal, marks arguably the largest monetary compensation ever awarded to an airline passenger in Nepal for service negligence.

​The Incident and Legal Battle

​The case stems from a formal complaint filed by Preeti Thapa, a resident of Lalitpur. According to court records, Thapa was traveling on a Qatar Airways flight when a cabin crew member accidentally spilled scalding hot coffee on her.

​The spill resulted in significant physical burn injuries, requiring medical attention, alongside extensive psychological and physical distress.

​Thapa initially filed a lawsuit demanding $2 million USD (approximately NPR 26.6 crores) to cover:

  • ​Medical expenses for burn treatments
  • ​Mental agony and physical suffering
  • ​Gross negligence on the part of the flight operators

​The Court's Ruling

​While the Consumer Court did not grant the full multi-million dollar amount demanded by the plaintiff, it firmly established the airline’s liability.

​After reviewing the evidence of physical trauma and assessing the protocols followed by the flight crew, the court ruled that the airline fell short of standard passenger safety obligations. The bench ordered Qatar Airways to pay NPR 26,200,000 directly to Thapa.

​Why This Verdict Matters

​Legal experts point out that this ruling sets a massive precedent for consumer and aviation rights in Nepal.

​Historically, airline passengers in the country facing injury or poor service had very limited domestic judicial recourse, often forced to settle for minimal amounts under international aviation treaties (like the Montreal Convention cap mechanisms) or face long, drawn-out civil suits.

​The decision highlights the growing legal authority of Nepal’s recently active Consumer Court system to hold multinational corporations accountable for local consumer safety.

​Note on Consumer Courts in Nepal: Established to provide fast-track justice for victims of fraudulent commercial practices, medical malpractice, and service negligence, this verdict is expected to push global airlines operating out of Kathmandu to strictly enforce in-flight safety guidelines.