Family’s Harrowing Experience with Bed Bugs on International Flight

A Virginia family is seeking justice after what should have been an exciting international trip turned into a nightmare of bites, rashes, and humiliation. The Albuquerque family from Roanoke has filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, claiming they suffered numerous bed bug bites during their March 21 transatlantic journey. Their legal complaint details not just physical injuries but also the emotional toll and financial burden that resulted from this troubling experience. The family is seeking $200,000 in compensation for their ordeal, which they say ruined what was meant to be a special family vacation to visit relatives in Serbia.

The family members—Romulo Albuquerque, his wife Lisandra Garcia, and their two children, Benicio and Lorenzo—began their journey with a Delta flight from Roanoke to Atlanta. Using points from Delta’s SkyMiles program, Romulo had carefully planned their connecting flights: from Atlanta they would board a KLM flight to Amsterdam, followed by another flight to Belgrade. The family’s excitement for their European adventure quickly dissolved, however, when about two hours into the Amsterdam-bound flight, Lisandra began experiencing the unsettling sensation of insects crawling on her skin and biting her. What followed was not just physical discomfort but also what they describe as troubling responses from the flight crew.

According to the lawsuit, when the couple alerted a flight attendant about the bed bug situation, they were allegedly instructed to keep their voices down to prevent causing “panic” among other passengers. The complaint further alleges that as the flight neared Amsterdam, flight attendants urged the family not to tell anyone about the infestation, warning that doing so might cause them to miss their connecting flight to Serbia. Rather than receiving assistance or concern for their well-being, the family claims they were essentially encouraged to remain silent about a serious health and safety issue. This alleged prioritization of operational convenience over passenger welfare forms a central grievance in their legal action.

The evidence presented in the lawsuit includes photographs and videos that the family managed to capture during their distressing experience. These visual records reportedly show bed bugs crawling on Lisandra’s sweater and other areas of the cabin. Additional images attached to the legal filing depict what are identified as bed bugs on a KLM napkin, as well as visible bites and welts on family members’ bodies. The documentation paints a vivid picture of their suffering, which continued well beyond the flight itself. Upon finally reaching their destination, the family was forced to wash their clothes in boiling water in an attempt to eliminate any bed bugs they might have inadvertently carried with them, adding further inconvenience to an already stressful situation.

The physical consequences for the Albuquerque family were significant and distressing. All family members reportedly developed raised and itchy welts, lesions, and rashes across their torsos and extremities—visible evidence of repeated bed bug bites. Beyond the immediate physical discomfort, the lawsuit states that the family endured “humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety, discomfort, inconvenience, medical expenses, and loss of clothing and personal items.” What should have been a joyful reunion with family and friends in Serbia was overshadowed by their physical suffering and the psychological impact of dealing with an insect infestation in such confined quarters, with little apparent sympathy from airline staff.

In response to the allegations, Delta Air Lines has issued a statement noting that “the allegations at issue relate to flights not operated by Delta Air Lines,” and indicating that they will “review the complaint and respond accordingly in due course.” KLM has not yet provided public comment on the matter. The case highlights broader concerns about hygiene and passenger treatment on international flights, particularly when problems arise. For the Albuquerque family, their lawsuit represents not just a quest for financial compensation but also a desire for accountability and recognition of their suffering. Their experience serves as a cautionary tale about how quickly a dream vacation can transform into a health nightmare, and raises questions about airlines’ protocols for handling such situations when they emerge at 30,000 feet with nowhere for passengers to escape.