Hockey star awarded damages over BA flight

31 August, 2007, 12:31

A Moscow court has ruled that British Airways must pay Russian ice hockey star Pavel Bure 67,000 rubles ($US 2600) in damages.

In October, the former NHL player Pavel Bure was ordered off a flight from Moscow to Los Angeles via London.

Mistaking him for a football hooligan, the pilot refused to take off until Bure – known as the Russian Rocket – left the plane.

Bure filed a lawsuit in August asking for 20 MLN roubles after failing to receive an apology or any compensation from the airline.

The star's lawyer says the sum ordered by the court is too little and they may appeal.

“Pavel is happy that the process is over and that the airline has been punished for what it did. As for the size of the damages, we will consider an appeal. Maybe for Russia 20 MLN roubles is a lot, but not for the rest of the world! And you should take into account the personality of Pavel Bure who is famous around the globe!” Dmitry Ragulin, Pavel Bure's lawyer, commented.