Kamala Harris’ friend is suing British Airways after claiming she was caught in a row onboard that resulted in her being hit in the head by a crew member.

Karen Gibbs, a former US navy lawyer, said she got caught in the crossfire after a member of staff was dealing with a disruptive passenger and received a ‘forceful blow’.

Ms Gibbs said she was left with ‘head pain, blurred vision, dizziness, disorientation and distress’, according to The Times.

Medical professionals have advised that her symptoms were consistent with a migraine. 

The former Vice President’s university friend has claimed the major airline only provided an ice pack to help soothe the injury and offered medical attention on board 90 minutes after the incident.

She alleged that after she wrote a complaint to British Airways she was offered a £50 payment in good faith.

The lawsuit alleges that upon landing Ms Gibbs was unable to walk through the airport without the assistance of a wheelchair.  

Documents claim Ms Gibbs experienced ‘continuing migraines or headaches, vision disturbance, memory and concentration problems, cognitive fatigue, disorientation, balance problem and other post-concussive symptoms’.

Kamala Harris’ friend Karen Gibbs (right) is suing British Airways after claiming she was caught in a row onboard that resulted in her being hit in the head by a crew member.

The incident occurred in August 2024 when she was travelling from Heathrow to Washington.

The cabin crew involved had intervened with a passenger who was causing issues on the flight, while Ms Gibbs was an ‘innocent bystander’ that accidentally got hit on top of her head.

Ms Gibbs has claimed the accident left her with a lasting physical toll on her body which forced her to retire from her new job as a senior federal attorney in the US civil service early due to suffering ‘cognitive fatigue’, concentration problems and memory problems.

The claim said: ‘Before the incident, Plaintiff [Gibbs] was active, independent, mentally sharp and capable of performing demanding legal work and extensive family, church, civic and travel responsibilities. 

‘Family members, friends and medical professionals observed a marked decline after the incident.’

Ms Gibbs is seeking damages for past and future medical expenses, lost compensation and employment benefits, mental anguish and ‘loss of enjoyment of life’.

British Airways said: ‘As this matter is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment.’

The federal lawyer spent 26 years working for the US navy and went on to serve as senior counsel at the Department of Justice organised crime drug enforcement task force.

Ms Gibbs went to the former Democratic Vice President’s inauguration and was godmother to her children. They met at Howard University in Washington in the 1980s.