Toddler Hospitalized After Qatar Airways Flight Attendant Allegedly Ignored Allergy Warning

A North Carolina mother is suing Qatar Airways for $5 million after her 3-year-old daughter suffered a severe allergic reaction mid-flight, allegedly caused by a flight attendant who ignored repeated warnings not to give the child any dairy products.

According to the lawsuit, filed October 31 in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, Swetha Neerukonda and her daughter boarded Qatar Airways Flight QR710 from Washington Dulles International Airport to Doha, Qatar, on April 9, en route to India. Neerukonda said she informed the cabin crew multiple times that her daughter had life-threatening allergies to dairy and nuts and reminded them again during the flight.

While Neerukonda briefly left her seat to use the lavatory, she asked a flight attendant to watch her daughter, reiterating the allergy warning. When she returned, she was horrified to find the attendant feeding the toddler a Kit Kat chocolate bar—containing milk, according to the complaint.

When confronted, the flight attendant “mocked and mitigated” the mother’s concerns, the lawsuit alleges. Within minutes, the child began experiencing anaphylaxis—her oxygen levels plummeted, and she showed signs of severe distress. Neerukonda administered her own EpiPen while pleading for help, but she claims the crew failed to make a public address announcement or call for a doctor on board, violating Qatar Airways’ emergency procedures.

“It’s inconceivable—they took it upon themselves to give the child the allergen,” said Neerukonda’s attorney, Abram Bohrer. “This was a very serious, life-threatening situation.”

Emergency Hospitalization and Aftermath

After the plane landed in Doha, the child’s condition worsened and she was taken to a hospital in India, where she spent two days in intensive care before stabilizing, according to court filings. The lawsuit accuses Qatar Airways of negligence and emotional distress, stating that both mother and child have suffered “great pain, agony, and mental anguish” as a result of the incident.

The complaint also claims that flight attendants interfered when Neerukonda attempted to speak with another passenger who had witnessed the event, telling her that doing so violated airline policy.

Broader Airline Allergy Concerns

The case highlights a growing number of lawsuits and medical emergencies linked to food allergy mishandling on international flights. In one 2024 incident, British reality TV star Jack Fowler said he nearly died aboard an Emirates flight after being served a meal containing cashew nuts despite informing the crew of his allergy. Similarly, a New York physician flying Singapore Airlines in 2023 became violently ill after being served shrimp, forcing an emergency diversion to Paris.

Food allergy advocacy groups have long criticized the lack of standardized global safety policies for allergic passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently does not require airlines to carry EpiPens, only vials of epinephrine—which can only be administered by trained medical personnel.

Legal and Industry Implications

Neerukonda’s lawsuit argues that once Qatar Airways was “placed on notice of a passenger’s food allergy,” the airline had a duty to prevent exposure to allergens and to respond appropriately during an in-flight medical emergency. The case seeks $5 million in damages, along with legal costs, interest, and a jury trial.

Qatar Airways has not yet filed a formal response to the allegations and did not respond to media requests for comment.

Bohrer said the case underscores a systemic failure in airline allergy protocols: “You’d think they’d jump into action—ask for a doctor, call ground-based telemedicine support—but they were blasé, indifferent. That can’t happen when a child’s life is on the line.”

As the lawsuit proceeds, it raises renewed questions about airline responsibility and the need for global standards to protect passengers with severe food allergies—especially the youngest and most vulnerable travelers.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com