newjerseynewsroom.com

Bugged by nauseating stowaways hitching a ride on their flight from Charlotte to Houston, a North Carolina couple is suing Air Tran Airways.

Attorney Harry Marsh and his fiancé Kaitlin Rush said that cockroaches came out of the air vents and carry-on compartments shortly after takeoff on Sept. 15, and that a flight attendant shushed them when they brought the pests to her attention.

Their lawsuit alleges negligence and recklessness, intentional infliction of emotional distress, nuisance, fraud, false imprisonment and unfair and deceptive trade practices. They took pictures of the bugs and included them as suit exhibits. They are suing for $100,000 plus what they paid for their tickets.

NewsChannel 36, WCNC, in Charlotte reported that Rush became nauseous and no longer wants to fly as a result of the alleged mental and emotional distress caused by the incident.

Their lawsuit claims that other passengers also saw the creatures and were distressed, and that the couple had to throw away some of their belongings and wash others out of concern that the cockroaches has crawled on or through them.

Jezebel.com reported that the suit may have serious legal implications should the couple win, as it could allow everyone who’s rental apartment has roaches to file suit.

Air Tran refused to comment on the lawsuit, but did say that the cleanliness of their equipment is very important and their planes are regularly and professionally treated for bugs.

—JOE GREENE, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM