A federal lawsuit says Delta required a California passenger to use her own hands to clear mildew and "rotten food" from an airplane seat before takeoff, after which she says it caused her to get a severe bacterial infection.
Here's what to know
According to The Independent, the federal suit filed by Ricka Thomas, 48, a licensed behavioral specialist, says Delta failed to properly clean her seat before Flight 763 took off from Atlanta to Los Angeles on Aug. 18, 2025.
The complaint says a flight attendant asked maintenance to address the problem after Thomas objected to the "filthy and nasty seat" and refused to sit down. She alleges the crew lacked the necessary cleaning equipment and told her to deal with the mess herself because it was close to departure time.
The filing says she "then used her hands to remove said foreign objects" from the seat area.
The complaint described the unpleasant mix of unsanitary substances she said she had to clean up with her hands, including "trash, yellow sticky stuff, mildew and old and rotten food, which caused [Thomas] to suffer a severe bacterial infection."
In the complaint, she also said she experienced dermatitis, a hand rash, blisters, discoloration, and significant hand swelling after coming into contact with the materials on seat 14F.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
After originating in state court on May 5 and moving to federal court in Los Angeles on Sept. 28, the case accuses Delta of recognizing a sanitation risk but failing to protect passengers from physical injury.
More background
Thomas says the incident has given her emotional distress, nightmares, and insomnia.
She also says the infection has kept her from returning to work and from carrying out her usual home and leisure activities.
Her lawsuit seeks $100,000 for pain and suffering and says she has already paid about $15,000 for medical care, expects roughly $25,000 more in future treatment, and estimates about $30,000 in lost income tied to the infection.
What's being done?
Thomas is asking the court to hold Delta liable for what she calls crew negligence and for proceeding despite an apparent sanitation problem.
Delta has not publicly responded to the allegations.
A Delta spokesperson told The Independent, "As a matter of policy, Delta does not comment on pending litigation." It did refute "each and every allegation" in a formal response to Thomas' complaint.
Where can I learn more?
These stories cover cleanliness and consumer-safety concerns more broadly.
• Across major U.S. airlines, organisms in the water still raise concerns about in-flight sanitation.
• In the Netherlands, a court said KLM's misleading marketing tactics crossed the line on climate claims.
• A neighborhood carpet-cleaning job left homeowners weighing legal action after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning.
• In Cambodian communities, a major contamination risk has fueled more unsanitary toilet practices.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
