A North Carolina mother has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Qatar Airways, claiming that a flight attendant ignored multiple warnings about her three-year-old daughter’s severe dairy allergy and served the child a chocolate bar, triggering a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. The mother, Swetha Neerukonda, claims the crew’s subsequent negligence compounded the medical emergency, resulting in her daughter spending two days in an intensive care unit (ICU) after the international journey. The suit, filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, outlines a grave breach of the airline’s duty of care.
The incident occurred during an April 9 flight, QR710, from Washington Dulles International Airport to Doha, Qatar, where Neerukonda and her daughter were connecting to India. The complaint details that Neerukonda informed the cabin crew upon boarding about her daughter’s dairy and nut allergies and reiterated the warning throughout the journey. At one point, when Neerukonda needed to use the lavatory, a flight attendant agreed to watch the child, receiving one final reminder about the severe allergies, which she acknowledged.
When Neerukonda returned to her seat, she was shocked to find the flight attendant feeding her daughter a Kit Kat bar. According to the lawsuit, when the distressed mother confronted the crew member, the attendant “responded by admitting that she had fed the … snack to the child, and who mocked and mitigated [Neerukonda’s] concerns.” Almost immediately, the young girl began to suffer severe anaphylaxis, resulting in a rapid decline in her mental status and vital signs.
Despite the escalating emergency, the suit claims the cabin crew was severely lacking in their response. The mother had to administer an epinephrine auto-injector injection, and the crew allegedly failed to make a public announcement for a medical professional or call for ground-based telemedicine support. Neerukonda’s attorney, Abram Bohrer, noted the shocking indifference, stating, “You’d think they would jump into action, calling for ground-based telemedicine support, asking for a doctor on board… But they were somewhat blasé, very indifferent.”
The child’s condition stabilized somewhat, allowing the family to continue to their final destination. However, upon landing in India, she suffered a second, severe biphasic anaphylactic reaction and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, where she remained in the ICU for two days. Attorney Bohrer expressed disbelief at the attendant’s actions, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation: “It’s inconceivable – they take it upon ourselves to give the child the allergen? This was a very serious, life-threatening situation.”
The lawsuit seeks to hold Qatar Airways accountable for the trauma and long-term health consequences suffered by the child. Neerukonda’s complaint states that her daughter “suffered great pain, agony and mental anguish” thanks to the candy bar she was given. The suit demands a jury trial and $5 million in damages, along with interest and court costs, arguing that once the crew was informed of the allergies, they incurred a non-negotiable duty of care to ensure the child was not served any harmful items.
Qatar Airways has not yet filed a formal response to the allegations outlined in Neerukonda’s lawsuit.
