A family’s dream vacation dissolved into a nightmare thousands of feet in the air, plagued by an unseen enemy. The Albuquerque family of Roanoke, Virginia, alleges a transatlantic flight became a breeding ground for bed bugs, leaving them covered in painful bites and enduring lasting emotional distress.
Their journey began with a Delta flight from Roanoke to Atlanta, seamlessly connecting to a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam. From there, they planned to continue to Belgrade, Serbia, eager to reconnect with cherished family and friends – a trip meticulously planned and eagerly anticipated.
Just two hours into the long haul over the Atlantic, Lisandra Garcia felt the first unsettling sensation: tiny creatures crawling on her skin. Then came the bites, sharp and insistent, signaling the start of a harrowing ordeal.
Alerting a flight attendant brought not reassurance, but a request for silence. The family claims they were urged to keep their voices down, warned that any disturbance could incite “panic” amongst the other passengers.
The bites continued relentlessly throughout the flight, transforming the cabin into a source of constant discomfort and growing anxiety. Each prickle and itch served as a stark reminder of the unseen infestation surrounding them.
Adding to their distress, the family alleges flight attendants actively discouraged them from informing fellow passengers about the problem. They were reportedly warned that speaking out could jeopardize their connecting flight to Serbia.
Romulo Albuquerque, a physician, and his wife documented the ordeal, capturing images and videos of the bugs crawling on surfaces and, most disturbingly, on Lisandra’s sweater. The evidence, they hoped, would validate their horrifying experience.
Photos submitted with the lawsuit depict what appear to be bed bugs on a KLM napkin and clearly visible bites erupting on the family’s skin. Upon reaching their destination, they were forced to resort to boiling water to salvage their clothing, desperate to eradicate the pests.
The family is now seeking $200,000 in compensation for the physical and emotional trauma inflicted upon them. The ordeal not only ruined their vacation but left them with lasting humiliation, anxiety, and unexpected medical expenses.
While Delta acknowledged the complaint, they clarified that the flights in question were not operated by their airline. They stated they would review the allegations and respond accordingly, leaving the Albuquerque family to navigate a complex legal battle for justice and closure.
