A family from Virginia is taking legal action against two major airlines after their transatlantic business-class journey turned into a horror story, alleging their seats were infested with bed bugs that left them covered in painful, itchy bites.
A Luxury Trip Turns Into a Nightmare
Ophthalmologist Romulo Albuquerque, his wife Lisandra Garcia, and their two children were travelling to Belgrade, Serbia, to visit family and friends in March. Dr Albuquerque, a frequent flyer, had booked the tickets, valued at $8,800, through Delta's SkyMiles programme. The first leg from Roanoke to Atlanta passed without incident.
The trouble began approximately two hours into their connecting KLM flight DL 9667 from Atlanta to Amsterdam. Mrs Garcia began to feel a crawling sensation and realised bugs were on her light-coloured sweater. The family soon discovered the insects in the creases of their seats in the business-class cabin.
When they alerted the cabin crew, the complaint alleges they were urged to "keep their voices down" to avoid causing panic among other passengers. The family managed to take photos and videos as evidence before being warned again, prior to landing in Amsterdam, not to discuss the infestation to avoid missing their connecting flight.
Physical and Emotional Scars
The consequences of the bed bug infestation were severe and immediate. The complaint details that the bites produced "large red welts" on the children's necks, torsos, legs, and arms. Mrs Garcia suffered similar rashes on her lower back and legs, while Dr Albuquerque was bitten on his neck and torso.
The family's holiday was effectively destroyed. "Due to the visible marks on their skin and unrelenting itchy feeling," they were unable to enjoy their vacation. The marks persisted until after they returned home to Roanoke. To this day, Mrs Garcia reportedly bears scars on her lower back from the bites.
Upon arrival in Belgrade, the family washed all their clothing in boiling water. A week later, the children were seen at a paediatric clinic, where a doctor confirmed the bites were from bed bugs and prescribed topical steroids and antihistamines. The doctor also recommended using "bug bombs" in their home and car. The visible injuries caused the children "great embarrassment at school."
Legal Battle and Airline Responses
The family's attorneys, Matt Broughton and Jared Tuck, stated they attempted to settle the matter out of court but that KLM and Delta ignored their efforts. Consequently, a federal lawsuit was filed on Thursday, 18 December 2025, in the Roanoke court. The family is seeking $200,000 in compensatory damages, plus interest, for their physical and emotional suffering, medical expenses, and the cost of destroyed personal items.
In response to the allegations, a Delta spokesman, Morgan Durrant, emphasised that the "allegations at issue relate to flights not operated by Delta Air Lines," as it was a codeshare on a KLM aircraft. A KLM spokeswoman said the company was "unable to comment on the specific allegations at this time" but would address them through legal channels. The complaint notes that flight attendants later submitted a formal grievance about the incident to KLM.
Travel experts note that bed bugs on aircraft are more common than admitted, thriving in fabric seats. Recommendations for wary travellers include choosing a window seat to reduce exposure from passenger traffic in the aisle.
