A passenger who misses a connecting flight because of a medical emergency involving another traveler on their first flight may not be entitled to compensation, according to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court. The court considered the medical issue to be an "extraordinary circumstance," which is defined in European air passenger regulations as a situation that is beyond the airline's control and not part of its normal operations. This ruling was based on a case involving a passenger traveling with Air France, who arrived at her final destination more than five hours late due to a delay on her initial flight. The delay occurred when another traveler experienced a medical issue that required the passenger to be removed from the aircraft before the flight departed. This caused her to miss her connecting flight, resulting in a significant delay. The passenger requested compensation for the delay, but the Supreme Court denied her claim in a ruling issued on September 23, 2026. The court ruled in favor of Air France, stating that the medical event was not inherent to the airline's usual operations and that the airline had no way of preventing it. The judges also noted that the passenger was transported to her destination as soon as possible after the incident. Under the European regulation on passengers' air rights, airlines are required to provide fixed compensation when a flight arrives at the final destination more than three hours late. The compensation amount varies depending on the flight distance, typically ranging between 250 and 600 euros. However, this compensation is not required if the airline can prove that the delay was caused by "extraordinary circumstances" that could not have been avoided, even with reasonable measures. In this case, the Supreme Court recognized the medical issue as an "extraordinary circumstance," thus exempting Air France from paying the compensation. The ruling does not mean that any medical issue on a flight automatically allows an airline to avoid compensation. The airline must demonstrate that the incident was outside its normal operations, that it could not have controlled it, and that it took reasonable steps to minimize the delay's impact. For missed connections on the same booking, the delay is assessed based on the final arrival time. Even if the three-hour threshold is exceeded, compensation may still be waived if an "extraordinary circumstance" is proven. While the absence of fixed compensation does not eliminate the airline's other obligations, the airline must provide refreshments, meals, communication tools, and, if necessary, accommodation with transport to and from the airport. The passenger also retains the right to be rerouted to their destination as soon as possible or to cancel the trip and request a refund for the unused portion of the ticket. This case highlights the distinction between the assistance due to passengers during disruptions and the fixed financial compensation, which may be waived if the airline can prove the existence of an extraordinary circumstance and that it took necessary measures to limit the delay.