Chinese Man Pricked by Needle on Flight Suffers Depression, Seeks Compensation

A Chinese man is asking for 130,000 yuan (US$18,000) in compensation from China Southern Airlines after being pricked by a syringe needle on a flight. He says the incident has caused him severe emotional distress and depression.

How the Incident Happened

The man, named Fu, was on a China Southern Airlines flight when he reached into his seat pocket to grab his phone. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his finger. When he looked, he saw that he had been pricked by a syringe needle. Fu suspected that the needle was from an insulin injection left behind by a previous passenger.

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Flight attendants immediately disinfected his finger and reported the incident. After investigating, the airline found out that the needle had been left behind by a passenger on an earlier flight.

Airline's Response and Compensation Offer

After the flight landed, China Southern Airlines offered Fu compensation. They gave him:

• 1,800 yuan (US$250) as a refund for his ticket

• 1,000 yuan (US$140) as additional compensation

However, Fu rejected the offer, saying it was not enough for what he had suffered.

Fear of Infection and Emotional Impact

Fu became very anxious about the possibility of infection. He went to the hospital several times for infectious disease tests. He also had trouble sleeping because of extreme worry and fear.

“The doctor told me that infections have a latent period (a time before symptoms appear), so I will need several medical tests over the next six months,” Fu said.

On February 10, doctors at Sichuan Modern Hospital diagnosed him with moderate depression. While his test results showed no infection, the uncertainty and stress affected his mental health.

Fu’s Demand for More Investigation

Fu repeatedly asked China Southern Airlines to check the health status of the passenger who had left the needle behind. However, the airline refused, saying they had to protect the person’s privacy.

Since the airline did not take further action, Fu decided to file a lawsuit. He demanded 130,000 yuan as compensation for his:

• Medical expenses

• Lost wages

• Emotional suffering

Airline's Apology and Final Decision

According to SCMP, China Southern Airlines issued a public apology. They said:

"We have strengthened cleaning and inspection procedures to ensure passenger safety."

On March 1, Fu confirmed that the airline had personally apologized to him. They also agreed to cover all his medical and psychiatric treatment costs. Additionally, the airline promised to pay for any future medical expenses related to the incident.

The passenger who left the needle on the plane was also identified and was found to be free of any infectious diseases. However, it is still unclear why the passenger brought a needle on board in the first place.