A North Carolina mother is suing Qatar Airways for $5 million after her 3-year-old daughter suffered anaphylaxis during an overseas flight. The lawsuit alleges that a flight attendant fed the toddler a chocolate bar containing milk that triggered the allergic reaction, despite being told of the child’s severe allergies to dairy and nuts.
Swetha Neerukonda, 33, informed the airline about her daughter’s food allergies before and during the 14-hour flight to Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, according to the complaint. The pair boarded a Qatar Airways flight at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia on April 9, 2025.
The severe allergic reaction occurred after Neerukonda asked a flight attendant to watch her toddler while she used the airplane’s restroom, the lawsuit states. The mother says she again reminded the flight attendant of her child’s allergies.
But the mom returned to her seat to find that flight attendant feeding her child a snack containing dairy, the complaint says. An attorney for Neerukonda told The Independent news outlet that the attendant gave the girl a KitKat, which is made of milk chocolate.
When confronted, the crew member admitted to feeding the snack to the toddler. The lawsuit says she also “mocked and mitigated” the seriousness of Neerukonda’s concerns.
“It’s inconceivable – they take it upon themselves to give the child the allergen?” attorney Abram Bohrer told The Independent. “This was a very serious, life-threatening situation.”
Bohrer is with the New York-based Bohrer & Lukeman. He and the Virginia-based firm of Abrams Landau filed the lawsuit filed on October 31 in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.
Toddler’s In-Flight Anaphylaxis
Soon after eating the snack, the young girl suffered anaphylaxis, “as her mental status and vital signs declined,” according to the complaint. Her mom injected her with her EpiPen auto-injector.
A spokesperson for Qatar Airways said in a statement to Allergic Living: “The safety, security, and well-being of our passengers remain our top priority. As this matter is under litigation, we are unable to provide additional comment at this time.”
During the medical emergency, the lawsuit contends that crew members did not make a PA announcement to request medical assistance. The suit says this is “in violation of Qatar Airways’ own practices and procedures.”
The Federal Aviation Administration does not currently require flights originating in the U.S. to carry epinephrine auto-injectors. But the onboard medical kits must include vials of epinephrine for trained medical professionals to administer.
“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,” Bohrer told The Independent.
The 3-year-old initially improved enough to make a connecting flight onto India with her mom. However, Bohrer told the New York Post that upon landing, the girl suffered “a severe rebound reaction”. He says she required two days in a hospital intensive care unit for further treatment.
Neerukonda’s lawsuit says the toddler, “suffered great pain, agony and mental anguish”. The suit asks for a jury trial and seeks a $5 million judgment against Qatar Airways.
Related Reading:
Why Your Plane’s Medical Kit May Lack Epinephrine
Airlines and Allergies Guide – International
