Despite her mother’s warnings, the little girl was given chocolate containing milk – Two days in intensive care – $5 million lawsuit from the family
Swetha Neerukonda and her 3-year-old daughter from North Carolina, USA, experienced terrifying moments on Qatar Airways flight QR710.
According to reports, Neerukonda’s daughter, who has a severe dairy allergy, was given a Kit Kat chocolate containing milk by a flight attendant.
Neerukonda stated that she repeatedly warned the crew about her daughter’s milk and nut allergies before boarding. However, according to the lawsuit, after the mother briefly went to the lavatory, the attendant gave the young girl a chocolate containing allergens.
The little girl soon began showing severe signs of anaphylaxis. Her mother administered an EpiPen injection and tried to stabilise her as her breathing rapidly worsened.
However, it was alleged that the flight crew failed to provide adequate medical assistance and did not make any emergency announcements during the incident.
“They Mocked My Concerns”
According to Neerukonda’s statement, the attendant admitted to giving the snack to the child despite the warnings and “mocked” the mother’s reaction dismissively.
Lawyer Abram Bohrer told The Independent:
“An unbelievable act of negligence. Giving allergen-containing food to a child with a known allergy on their own initiative is a mistake that could have fatal consequences.”
Two Days in Intensive Care
After the plane landed in Doha, the little girl’s condition deteriorated again. Following a transfer to India, she suffered a second anaphylactic episode and was hospitalised, spending two days in intensive care.
The family’s $5 million lawsuit cites both physical and emotional trauma caused by the crew’s negligence.
Cabin Crew Accused of Inadequate Response
The lawsuit claims that the flight crew were “indifferent and unprepared” during the incident, failed to follow emergency medical protocols, and left the mother to handle the situation alone.
Bohrer added: “In such cases, cabin crews are required to contact ground-based medical centres for professional guidance. However, on this flight, no such effort was made.”
Qatar Airways Remains Silent
Qatar Airways has not issued any official statement following the incident.
Similar Incidents Increasing
In recent years, similar incidents have been reported on other airlines as well.
In 2024, British TV star Jack Fowler suffered a comparable medical emergency on an Emirates flight due to a cashew allergy.
