An American mother has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Qatar Airways after her three-year-old daughter suffered a severe allergic reaction when a flight attendant allegedly ignored multiple warnings and fed the child a candy bar containing dairy.
The Frightening In-Flight Incident
According to court documents obtained by The Post, the terrifying incident occurred on April 9 during a Qatar Airways flight from Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia to Doha, Qatar. Swetha Neerukonda, 33, was traveling with her young daughter for a connecting flight to India when the medical emergency unfolded.
Neerukonda had repeatedly informed the cabin crew about her daughter's severe allergy to dairy and nuts both before and during the flight, emphasizing the life-threatening nature of the condition. The mother took extra precautions when she needed to use the bathroom, specifically enlisting a female flight attendant to watch her child and once again reminding her about the dangerous allergy.
Flight Attendant's Shocking Actions
When Neerukonda returned from the bathroom, she discovered to her horror that the flight attendant was feeding her daughter a snack containing dairy. Attorney Abram Bohrer, who is representing the family, identified the snack as what appeared to be a Kit Kat bar.
Even more alarming was the flight attendant's response when confronted. According to the legal complaint, the crew member admitted feeding the snack to the child but then mocked and belittled the mother's concerns. "She mocked her reaction. She belittled it. She essentially said, 'I know better than you,'" Bohrer told The Post.
Medical Emergency and Aftermath
The consequences were immediate and severe. Within a short time, the three-year-old began suffering severe anaphylaxis, with her mental status and vital signs rapidly declining. Neerukonda quickly administered an EpiPen injection to her daughter, potentially saving her life.
The airline crew allegedly failed to make any announcement over the flight's loudspeaker, which appears to violate standard emergency procedures. When Neerukonda attempted to share information with a fellow passenger she believed could be a witness, a flight attendant intervened, claiming this violated airline policy.
After landing in Doha, paramedics cleared the child to continue on her connecting flight to India. However, she suffered another severe rebound reaction upon landing and required admission to an intensive care unit for two days of treatment.
The lawsuit seeks $5 million in compensation for economic losses and the "great pain, agony, and mental anguish" experienced by the young child. "A mom should be able to trust that a flight attendant could keep an eye on her child for a few minutes," Bohrer stated, emphasizing the breach of trust.
He described the traumatic experience the child endured: "This is a young child who, through no fault of their own, ends up attached to all these cables, wires, needles. It's beyond bizarre. It's unforgivable."
