BEIJING: A man in China who was pricked by a left-behind needle on a flight is demanding 130,000 yuan (US$18,000) in compensation for depression caused by his resultant fear of infections.
According to the mainland media outlet Jimu News, the man surnamed Fu was pricked by a syringe needle on a China Southern Airlines flight while retrieving his phone from the seat pocket.
Fu recalled feeling a sharp sting in his finger and discovering a needle stuck to it, which he suspected was from an insulin syringe.
The flight attendants disinfected his finger and reported the incident to the ground company.
It was later confirmed that the needle had been left behind by a passenger on a previous flight.
After landing, the airline offered Fu 1,800 yuan (US$250) for his ticket and an additional 1,000 yuan for the incident. However, Fu rejected the offer, deeming it insufficient.
Fu later paid for multiple hospital visits to undergo infectious disease tests, citing insomnia caused by excessive worry.
He said: “The doctor told me infections have a latent period, so I need several checks over the next six months.”
Fu said the uncertainty of potentially being diagnosed with an infectious disease “crushed” him.
On February 10, he was diagnosed with moderate depression at Sichuan Modern Hospital, and was advised to undergo further tests for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV in two months.
Currently, his test results show no signs of any related diseases.
The man put his hand into the seat back pocket and felt a sharp jab on his finger. – Photo: Baidu
Fu said he has repeatedly asked China Southern Airlines to investigate the health of the passenger who left the needle behind, but the airline refused, citing privacy concerns.
He later filed a lawsuit, seeking more than 130,000 yuan (US$18,000) in compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and emotional distress.
In its latest public apology, China Southern Airlines said: “We have strengthened cleaning and inspection procedures to ensure passenger safety.”
On March 1, Fu said that the airline had personally apologised and promised to cover his medical and psychiatric treatment costs.
The airline also said it would continue to pay for any future treatment related to the incident.
The passenger who left the needle behind has been found and cleared of infectious diseases in a health check, but the reason for bringing it on board has not been disclosed.
Wang Yiyun, a lawyer from Zhejiang Lunhe Law Firm said that China Southern Airlines’ failure to clean properly led to the needle being left behind, and they should compensate Fu for his medical expenses.
Wang also said that if the investigation finds the passenger intentionally left the needle, the airline may seek compensation from them.
The incident has sparked attention on mainland social media, with related topics attracting more than a million views.
One online observer said: “I can fully understand Fu’s anxiety. The airline should be held accountable for the poor cleaning.” – South China Morning Post
