Family Sues Delta and KLM Over Bed Bug Bites

ROANOKE, Va. — Here's a travel nightmare you don't hear about every day: a family vacation derailed not by delayed luggage or a missed connection, but by bed bugs crawling on passengers mid-flight. The Albuquerque family from Roanoke is now suing Delta Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for $200,000, claiming they were bitten repeatedly by the insects during their journey to Serbia. According to a federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division, what started as an uneventful departure from Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport quickly turned into something out of a horror movie once the family boarded their second flight.

When the Bugs Came Out

The trouble began about two hours into the flight, according to the lawsuit. One family member felt something crawling on them and spotted bugs on a sweater. That's the kind of discovery that makes your skin crawl just reading about it; imagine being stuck in a metal tube at 30,000 feet with nowhere to go. The lawsuit alleges that the entire family was bitten during the flight, turning what should have been an exciting trip abroad into a deeply unpleasant ordeal. It's one thing to deal with cramped seats or mediocre airplane food. It's quite another to share your space with insects that feed on human blood.

What Happens When Your Flight Has Uninvited Guests

Bed bug infestations on aircraft are rare but not unheard of. These insects are excellent hitchhikers; they can cling to luggage, clothing, or upholstery and spread from passenger to passenger or from one flight to the next if aircraft cleaning protocols miss them. Airlines typically deep-clean cabins between flights, but bed bugs are notoriously difficult to spot and even harder to eradicate once they've settled in. For passengers, discovering bed bugs mid-flight creates an immediate problem with no real solution until you land. You can't exactly pull over and switch seats to another plane. And the psychological impact shouldn't be underestimated; once you know they're there, every itch and sensation becomes suspect.

The Aftermath and Legal Claims

The Albuquerque family's lawsuit doesn't just focus on the bites themselves. According to court documents, the family also had to deal with damage to their personal items as a result of the infestation. That likely means contaminated luggage and clothing that either needed extensive treatment or disposal entirely; bed bugs can survive for months without feeding and are shockingly resilient. The $200,000 lawsuit names both Delta Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines as defendants. Given that the family's journey involved multiple carriers, determining which airline's aircraft hosted the bed bugs, and which carrier bears responsibility, could become a complicated question in court. Was it the Delta segment? The KLM flight? Or did the bugs transfer from one aircraft to another via the family's belongings after an initial exposure?

What This Means for Air Travelers

Most of us don't think about bed bugs when we're booking flights, and honestly, we probably shouldn't have to. Airlines have a responsibility to maintain clean, sanitary cabins, and passengers should be able to trust that basic standard is being met. But this case serves as an uncomfortable reminder that even in premium travel environments, these pests can occasionally slip through. If you ever suspect bed bugs on a flight, document everything. Take photos if possible, alert flight attendants immediately, and keep any physical evidence, including the clothes you were wearing. It's also worth inspecting your seat area when you first sit down; look for tiny dark spots on upholstery or in seat crevices, which can indicate bed bug activity. As for the Albuquerque family, their case will likely hinge on proving not only that the bed bugs were present on the airlines' aircraft but also that the carriers failed in their duty to maintain a safe and sanitary environment. It's the kind of lawsuit that makes you think twice about every little tickle you feel the next time you're settling in for a long-haul flight. And if you're heading to Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport anytime soon? Maybe pack an extra change of clothes in a sealed bag, just in case.