The alleged accident occurred on a QantasLink Sunstate aircraft bound for Albury. Photo: DaHuzyBru/File.
An Albury-bound passenger who allegedly slipped and fell heavily down aircraft stairs is taking Qantas to court, with the airline disputing his account of what happened.
Acccording to a recent published judgment, Roy Van der Meer was boarding Qantas flight QF2207 from Sydney to Albury about 3 pm on 7 December, 2024, when he allegedly slipped on portable metal stairs leading from the terminal to the tarmac.
He initially claimed the stairs had no canopy and were wet after rain, causing him to suffer injuries in the fall.
However, CCTV footage obtained during the case allegedly showed a canopy over the stairs, yellow friction-based anti-slip strips and a sign beneath the handrail reading: “Always hold handrail when using stairs.”
The footage also allegedly showed Mr Van der Meer wearing a Hawaiian shirt and holding a black suitcase in his right hand, with his left hand appearing to be free.
Qantas says a ground marshaller saw Mr Van der Meer lose control of his hand luggage, attempt to grab it, then reach for the handrail but miss before falling.
The airline argues Mr Van der Meer’s own actions caused or contributed to his injuries.
A recent procedural NSW District Court decision – published on Friday (25 September) – has allowed Mr Van der Meer to amend his claim and join Sunstate Airlines, the carrier operating the Albury flight, as a second defendant alongside Qantas.
Qantas says it owned the stairs and was responsible for inspecting, maintaining and repairing them, but argues it was acting as an agent for Sunstate.
The 25 September decision did not determine who was responsible for the fall, with the judge finding there was a “real triable issue” about the airlines’ roles and responsibilities.
Mr Van der Meer had put forward four versions of his proposed amended claim and had failed to file personal injury particulars by a court-ordered deadline.
The judge allowed the amendment, but ordered Mr Van der Meer to pay Qantas’s legal costs of the application.
The case will return to court for further directions on 28 October.
