When airlines damage or lose their passenger's luggage, they normally - perhaps grudgingly - end up paying back compensation of a few hundred pounds.

But United Airlines are much more out of pocket in this case.

The company has lost 10per cent of their share value - a massive $180million - after being blamed for damaging a musician's guitar.

Canadian singer Dave Carroll composed United Breaks Guitars after his Taylor acoustic was damaged at Chicago's O'Hare airport.

His song has become a YouTube hit with nearly four million views in 10 days.

In the music video, Carroll relates his story, of how in spring 2008 he was travelling to Nebraska when other passengers exclaimed: 'They're [the baggage handlers] are throwing guitars down there!'

Sure enough, his Taylor guitar had been smashed.