Virginia Family Sues Delta, KLM Over Bed Bug Bites on Flight
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A Virginia family filed a lawsuit claiming they were bitten and injured by bedbugs during a transatlantic flight operated by Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
In a complaint filed last week, an Albuquerque family in Roanoke, Virginia, said the bugs invaded the cabin of a plane during a March 21 trip.
“An Albuquerque family developed raised and itchy spots, lesions, and rashes on the trunk and extremities, ruining family vacations and causing humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety, discomfort, inconvenience, medical expenses, and loss of clothing and personal belongings,” the lawsuit states.
THE FAMILY INITIATED THE FLIGHT DUE TO THEIR SON’S INSECT BITE, DESPITE THE DOCTOR’S APPROVAL
A Boeing 737 belonging to KLM Airlines is preparing to land at Schiphol airport. KLM – Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij NV (Royal Dutch Airlines) is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. (iStock)
The family identified as Romulo Albuquerque; his wife, Lisandra Garcia; Benicio and his two children, Benicio and Lorenzo Albuquerque, boarded a Delta flight from Roanoke to Atlanta on March 21, the lawsuit said. This flight was followed by a KLM flight to Amsterdam and Belgrade, Serbia, where they planned to visit family and friends, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit states that Romulo Albuquerque purchased the plane tickets through Delta’s SkyMiles program.
Two hours after the flight to Amsterdam, Lisandra Garcia began feeling bugs biting and crawling on her, according to the lawsuit.
An Albuquerque family says a sweater and napkins were infested with bedbugs.
The couple warned the flight attendant, who allegedly told them to keep their voices down to avoid “panic” on the plane, according to the lawsuit.
It was stated that the insects bit the family several times during the flight.
A ‘GIANT’ RAT WAS DETECTED RUNNING ON THE PLANE, HOLIDAY FLIGHT WAS CANCELED
Image of a napkin showing bedbugs, taken by an Albuquerque family. (United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Roanoke Division)
“Before landing in Amsterdam, the flight attendants once again insisted that Dr. Albuquerque and Ms. Garcia not tell anyone about the invasion because if they did so, they would miss their connecting flight to Serbia,” the lawsuit states.
Albuquerque and Garcia took photos of the bugs and recorded videos showing the bugs crawling around the sweater and other parts of the cabin, the suit said.
Footage attached to the lawsuit shows what are described as bedbugs on a KLM napkin and sweater, as well as visible bites on their bodies. According to the complaint, the family had to wash their clothes in boiling water when they arrived at their destination.
“As this ongoing litigation ultimately indicates, the allegations at issue relate to flights that are not operated by Delta Air Lines,” Delta told Fox News Digital. “Delta will review the complaint and respond accordingly in due course.”
A member of an Albuquerque family is facing a lawsuit alleging he was bitten by bedbugs on a transatlantic flight earlier this year. (United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Roanoke Division)
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A lawsuit was filed against the family for compensation of $200,000. Fox News Digital has also reached out to KLM for comment.
