N.C. Couple Sues Air Tran Over Cockroaches on Flight

A North Carolina couple is suing Air Tran Airways, alleging they were sickened by cockroaches coming out of air vents and storage areas on a recent flight. They say flight attendants ignored their concerns.

WCNC-TV reports that Charlotte attorney Harry Marsh and his fiancée, Kaitlin Rush, saw the cockroaches soon after takeoff on a Sept. 15 flight from Charlotte to Houston with a stop-over in Atlanta. They say flight attendants were too busy to investigate the problem. Marsh said Rush became nauseous and now doesn’t want to fly.

They’re claiming mental and emotional distress and seeking more than $100,000, plus the price of their tickets.

Air Tran said it can’t comment on pending litigation, but it denies several allegations. The airline says cleanliness is important and that planes are regularly and professionally treated for bugs.