Delta, Air Canada Passengers Face Hard Decisions When Confronted With Bodily Fluids

Passengers aboard flights on two leading airlines, Delta Air Lines, Inc. DAL and Air Canada ACDVF, were recently confronted with situations involving bodily fluids, leading to some real discomfort and tough choices.

What Happened: On an Air Canada flight from Seattle to Montreal on Aug. 26, two passengers were reportedly asked to sit in seats that were wet with vomit. According to Susan Benson, a passenger on that flight, the issue had been caused by a prior passenger who had vomited on the preceding journey.

"There was a bit of a foul smell but we didn’t know at first what the problem was," Benson described in a Facebook post that has since gone viral.

She said that the airline tried to remedy the situation with a quick cleanup before boarding, but the results were less than satisfactory, with the seat and seatbelt still visibly wet and residues of vomit around the seats.

The passengers flagged a flight attendant, describing the situation as "unacceptable.” According to Benson, who spoke to USA Today, the passengers were calm and insistent, not aggressive.

Flight attendants acknowledged the miscommunication with the cleaning crew the previous night. Despite initial attempts to make the passengers comfortable, including providing blankets, wipes, and additional vomit bags, tensions escalated. The pilot gave them a difficult choice: leave the plane on their own or be escorted off by security and be placed on a no-fly list.

Eventually, security did escort the women off the flight. The flight was delayed by 31 minutes.

Benson's post aimed at holding Air Canada accountable. While the airline did not directly comment to USA Today, they shared with Insider that their operating procedures had not been followed correctly and assured that they would address the matter internally.

Read Also: Why Disney's 'Melting Iceberg' ESPN Is Unlikely To Attract Apple As Buyer

In a similar vein, a Delta flight from Atlanta to Barcelona faced a medical emergency when a passenger suffered from severe gastrointestinal distress. The incident unfolded two hours into the transatlantic journey when the passenger had extreme diarrhea, prompting the plane to make an emergency return to Atlanta.

The emergency resulted in the flight arriving in Barcelona eight hours later than initially planned.

An alleged FAA flight strip on Reddit suggested a "biohazard" situation onboard, according to Breaking911. Delta acknowledged the medical issue but refrained from offering detailed specifics.

Statements from alleged passengers shed more light on the unpleasant scenario. One person shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the severity of the situation and commended the ground crew for their efficient response, which included ripping out and replacing the airplane’s carpet.

Another user highlighted the mess, describing it as dribbling down the aisle and noted the ineffectiveness of the “vanilla-scented” disinfectant.

As undeniably gross as it is, the two incidents highlight the challenges airlines face in managing unexpected situations and the choices passengers often must make when their health and comfort are compromised.

Read Next: Disney Comes To The Rescue, Ensuring US Open Broadcast Amid Cable Blackout

Photo: Shutterstock