Toddler ends up in ICU after airline staff ‘mocks’ mom’s allergy warnings, lawsuit says

With a 3 year old girl severe milk allergy He was hospitalized after a while Qatar Airways Allegedly, the flight attendant gave the little boy chocolate despite his mother’s warnings not to serve him anything containing milk.

When Swetha Neerukonda returned to her seat from the bathroom, the stunned parent confronted the flight attendant, who “taunted and eased” her concerns as the toddler entered the room. anaphylaxis Vital signs decreased, according to $5 million lawsuit reviewed by Independent.

The child’s condition worsened after landing and he remained in the intensive care unit for two days until his condition stabilized, the lawsuit said.

“This is inconceivable; did they take it upon themselves to give the child the allergen?” Abram Bohrer, a lawyer representing Neerukonda, said: Independent. “This was a very serious and life-threatening situation.”

The lawsuit, filed Oct. 31 in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, alleges that the cabin crew did little to help and left Neerukonda largely to her own devices.

“You would think they would take action by requesting telemedicine support from land, requesting a doctor on board,” Bohrer said. “But they were a little bit blasé and very apathetic.”

A Qatar Airways spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

Anaphylaxis allergic reaction This shuts down the body’s airways and can be fatal if immediate medical attention is not given. Once, a 20-year-old woman with a shellfish allergy nearly died. anaphylactic reaction This incident occurred shortly after she kissed her boyfriend, who had eaten shrimp earlier in the day.

The Federal Aviation Administration does not require airlines to carry EpiPens, but planes are required to carry vials of epinephrine that only a trained medical professional can administer. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

According to Neerukonda’s report, on April 9, 33-year-old Neerukonda and her young daughter boarded Qatar Airways flight QR710 from Washington Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Virginia. complaint.

They departed for India and were to transfer to Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, after a 14-hour flight from Dulles.

Neerukonda informed the cabin crew about her daughter’s milk and nut allergy while boarding the plane and repeated the warning during the journey, and her complaint continues. “When crew members were notified of a passenger’s food allergy,” the complaint states, “they had a duty of care to provide food items containing such allergens… [would] “That passenger will not be served.”

At some point during the flight, Neerukonda toilet, According to the complaint, one of the flight attendants agreed to watch over her daughter while she was away. Neerukonda “reiterated” that her daughter was allergic to dairy products and nuts, and the flight attendant acknowledged this, the complaint states.

But when Neerukonda returned, the flight attendant was feeding her a Kit Kat bar, according to Bohrer.

Neerukonda later confronted flight attendant “Responding to and mocking and making light of the child by admitting to feeding him a snack” [Neerukonda’s] concerns,” according to the complaint.

“In a short time [the young girl] “He began to experience severe anaphylaxis due to the decline in his mental state and vital signs,” the complaint continues.

Bohrer said the child “experienced a rapid decline in oxygen saturation rate and eventually required an EpiPen injection,” to which Neerukonda was administered, the complaint said. However, “no PA announcements were made by cabin crew members that breached the rules. [the airline’s] their own practices and procedures, according to the complaint.

“Also,” he argues, “when [Neerukonda] When he attempted to share information with a passenger he believed was a witness, a flight attendant intervened, claiming this violated the airline’s policy.”

The complaint states that the girl’s condition improved slightly and she went to Doha to make contact without further incident. However, upon arrival in India, the child suffered a second anaphylactic reaction and was hospitalized and placed in the intensive care unit for emergency treatment.

A Southern California cardiologist was flying in 2023 Qatar Airways Died after being rejected everywhere from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka vegetarian According to the wrongful death lawsuit, he choked on a piece of the meal he ordered while trying to comply with the flight attendant’s instructions to “eat” the meat in the meal he was given. first reported by Independent.

A year later, a New York City doctor flying from Frankfurt, Germany, to John F. Kennedy International Airport on Singapore Airlines became “violently ill” when served a meal containing shrimp, even after informing the cabin crew of his severe shellfish allergy. according to a lawsuit filed last June.. The flight had to be diverted to Paris, where the woman “was transported by ambulance and received emergency medical treatment at two separate medical facilities,” according to her complaint.

In June 2024, British reality TV star Jack Fowler what he describes as fatal anaphylaxis Emirates flight to Dubai after allegedly being served chicken curry containing cashews despite informing a flight attendant that he was suffering from serious illness hazelnut allergy.

“Cashews are the worst nut for me,” Fowler said. Good morning England In that case. “I immediately realized that my throat was blocked, I couldn’t breathe.”

Neerukonda’s lawsuit states that her daughter “suffered great pain, suffering, and mental anguish” as a result of the candy bar given to her by a Qatar Airways flight attendant, and will likely continue to deal with related issues.

It seeks a jury trial and $5 million in damages, as well as pre- and post-trial interest, as well as court costs and attorney fees.

Qatar Airways has yet to provide an official response to the allegations.