Additional Coverage:
- Virginia family alleges bed bugs bit them during transatlantic flight, suing Delta and KLM airlines (foxnews.com)
Roanoke Family Sues Airlines Over Alleged Bed Bug Infestation on Transatlantic Flight
A Roanoke, Virginia family has filed a lawsuit alleging they suffered bed bug bites and injuries during a transatlantic flight operated by Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The complaint, filed last week, claims the aircraft cabin was infested with the pests during a March 21st trip.
The Albuquerque family – Romulo Albuquerque, his wife Lisandra Garcia, and their two children, Benicio and Lorenzo – boarded a Delta flight from Roanoke to Atlanta on March 21st, followed by a KLM flight to Amsterdam, and a connecting flight to Belgrade, Serbia. They were traveling to visit family and friends.
According to the lawsuit, approximately two hours into the flight to Amsterdam, Lisandra Garcia began to feel bugs crawling on her and biting her. The family reported the issue to a flight attendant, who allegedly advised them to keep their voices down to prevent “panic” among other passengers.
The complaint details that the family continued to be bitten by the bugs throughout the flight. The lawsuit further alleges that before landing in Amsterdam, flight attendants again urged Dr.
Albuquerque and Mrs. Garcia not to disclose the infestation, warning that doing so would cause them to miss their connecting flight to Serbia.
The family reportedly took photos and videos of the bugs, showing them crawling on a sweater and other areas of the cabin. Images included in the lawsuit depict what are described as bed bugs on a KLM napkin and a sweater, along with visible bites on the family members’ bodies. Upon arrival at their destination, the family was forced to wash their clothes in boiling water.
“The Albuquerque family developed raised and itchy welts, lesions, and rashes across their torsos and extremities, which ruined their family vacation and has caused humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety, discomfort, inconvenience, medical expenses, and loss of clothing and personal items,” the lawsuit states.
Delta Air Lines, when contacted for comment, stated, “As this pending litigation eventually states, the allegations at issue relate to flights not operated by Delta Air Lines. Delta will review the complaint and respond accordingly in due course.” Fox News Digital has also reached out to KLM for a statement.
The lawsuit seeks $200,000 in compensation for the family.