Virginia family alleges bed bugs bit them during transatlantic flight, suing Delta and KLM airlines
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A family from Virginia has filed a lawsuit claiming they suffered bites and injuries from bed bugs during a transatlantic journey with Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

The complaint, submitted last week by the Albuquerque family from Roanoke, Virginia, alleges that their flight on March 21 was plagued by a bed bug infestation.

According to the lawsuit, the family experienced itchy welts, lesions, and rashes on their bodies, which marred their vacation and led to feelings of humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety, and discomfort. They also incurred medical expenses and suffered the loss of clothing and personal belongings.

KLM flight

A KLM Airlines Boeing 737, preparing to land at Schiphol airport, is shown. KLM—Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (Royal Dutch Airlines)—serves as the Netherlands’ national airline. (iStock)

The lawsuit identifies the family members as Romulo Albuquerque, his wife Lisandra Garcia, and their children, Benicio and Lorenzo Albuquerque. They commenced their journey on March 21 with a Delta flight from Roanoke to Atlanta, then continued with a KLM flight to Amsterdam, before heading to Belgrade, Serbia, intending to visit relatives and friends.

Romulo Albuquerque purchased the airline tickets through Delta’s SkyMiles program, the lawsuit states.

Two hours into the flight to Amsterdam, Lisandra Garcia began feeling bugs crawling on and biting her, the suit said.

A sweater and napkin that had bed bugs during a transatlantic flight

A sweater and napkin the Albuquerque family said was infested with bed bugs.

The couple alerted a flight attendant, who allegedly told them to keep their voices down to avoid “panic” on the plane, according to the lawsuit.

The bugs repeatedly bit the family during the flight, it said.

Bed bugs on a KLM napkin

A image of a napkin taken by the Albuquerque family showing bed bugs.  (United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)

“Prior to landing in Amsterdam, the flight attendants again urged Dr. Albuquerque and Mrs. Garcia not to tell anyone about the infestation because, if they did so, they would miss their connecting flight to Serbia,” the lawsuit alleges.

Albuquerque and Garcia took photos of the bugs and recorded videos showing bugs crawling on her sweater and other parts of the cabin, the suit said.

Images attached to the lawsuit show what are described as bed bugs on a KLM napkin and a sweater, as well as visible bites on their bodies. The family had to wash their clothes in boiling water once they arrived at their destination, according to the complaint.

“As this pending litigation eventually states, the allegations at issue relate to flights 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 the Albuquerque family with bed bug bites

A member of the Albuquerque family is seen with what a lawsuit claims are bites from bed bugs from a transatlantic flight earlier this year.  (United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)

The lawsuit for the family to be compensated $200,000. Fox News Digital has also reached out to KLM for comment.

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