A Pennsylvania woman has launched legal action against Lufthansa and its subsidiary Discover Airlines, alleging that a fall down a flight of wet airstairs resulted in serious injuries. Patricia Gunsser has claimed that the incident not only caused her severe physical harm but also requires ongoing medical treatment due to the lasting nature of her injuries.
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The complaint, filed by Gunsser and her husband, Paul, details an incident that occurred on 29 November 2025. The pair had boarded a Discover flight in Philadelphia destined for Frankfurt, Germany. According to the lawsuit, upon arrival, the aircraft was not parked at a covered jet bridge despite the heavy rain. Instead, it was stationed on the remote tarmac, necessitating the use of portable airstairs for passengers to disembark.
Gunsser asserts that the airstairs were dangerous as they lacked anti-slip features, making them particularly hazardous in wet weather conditions. The lawsuit alleges that both the handrail and stairs were slippery due to the rain. Before attempting to descend, she reportedly paused to discuss how to safely navigate the slippery stairs with her daughter. However, the complaint states that a flight attendant who observed the conversation urged them to proceed without offering any assistance, reportedly hurrying them due to other passengers waiting to disembark.
As Gunsser began her descent, she claims to have slipped about five steps down the staircase, leading to a fall that resulted in her landing on the tarmac below. The injuries she sustained were severe and included a concussion, fractures of her clavicle and sternum, as well as a cardiac contusion along with various other wounds.
Following the fall, Gunsser was taken to a local hospital in Frankfurt, where she remained for approximately two weeks receiving treatment. However, her ordeal did not end there. During her medical transport back to the United States, also arranged by Lufthansa, she reportedly suffered an acute medical deterioration due to the physical and mental stress from the initial incident. This necessitated an unscheduled stop in Ireland, where she was again transferred to a hospital for further medical attention and was diagnosed with a serious infection.
The lawsuit states that due to the complications from her fall, she was forced to remain abroad for six additional weeks before she was cleared for travel back to the United States. In light of these challenges, the couple is seeking damages from both airlines, arguing that her injuries and losses are permanent and will have ongoing repercussions in their lives.
Patricia Gunsser’s attorney, Zachary Gorwitz, commented on the case, expressing concern about the conditions under which passengers were allowed to disembark from the aircraft. He stated, “Mrs. Gunsser was looking forward to a wonderful trip to Germany with her daughter. Unfortunately, Lufthansa and Discover Airlines did not meet their responsibility to ensure Mrs. Gunsser arrived in Germany safely.” Gortwitz further added that they are keen to understand why the decision was made to have passengers descend the wet stairs without proper safety measures.
In a procedural move, on May 19, the legal representatives of both defendants filed a notice to remove the case to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. As of now, attempts to obtain comments from the Lufthansa Group and Discover Airlines regarding the allegations have not been successful.
This incident raises significant concerns regarding passenger safety during air travel, particularly in adverse weather conditions. The outcome of this legal action may have wider implications for industry standards about aircraft disembarkation practices and the responsibilities of airlines to safeguard their passengers during such situations.