A man has filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines after being pricked by a hypodermic needle hidden in a seat pocket, which allegedly forced him to undergo a year of HIV testing.
Gabriel Ybarra was flying from Los Angeles to Atlanta in 2015 when he reached into the seat pocket to retrieve his wallet and was jabbed by a needle propped up inside. He had to pull the needle out of his middle finger, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
Mr Ybarra said his 'life flashed before him' upon seeing the needle. Subsequently, he visited a doctor who prescribed a series of tests and powerful medication to ensure he did not contract HIV. The lawsuit claims he experienced dizziness, headaches, body aches and 'explosive diarrhoea' for several months, adding that he 'couldn't perform his duties as a husband to his wife for months'.
A Delta spokesman said the airline was 'dismayed by what this customer describes in the suit', and stressed that 'the safety and security of our customers and employees is always Delta's top priority'.
