A disturbing in-flight discovery left one passenger sleepless on a recent American Airlines red-eye: cockroaches (two of them!) were spotted crawling near their seat in first class.
The flight, which departed from Salt Lake City and arrived in Miami, turned into a nightmare for the traveler who described the unsettling encounter in a Reddit post. “At some point during the flight I felt something crawling on my foot (since I was wearing sandals),” the user wrote. “To my absolute horror I saw two cockroaches directly in front of me.”
The passenger managed to catch one of the bugs before it disappeared into the headrest in front of them. “Just thinking of what I went through gave me goosebumps and I couldn’t at all relax for the remainder of my flight,” they added. “In my 15 years flying I’ve never before seen roaches on a plane.”
Roaches on my red eye flight
byu/Straight_Ad_5935 inamericanairlines
The incident quickly sparked conversation online, with some current and former airline employees chiming in. One Redditor, claiming to be a former American Airlines flight attendant, said, “Roach infestations on the planes were VERY common. Chances are it’s already been reported—it’s just not bad enough to take [the aircraft] out of service.”
Another, who supervised cleaning crews at Chicago O’Hare, echoed that sentiment: “They’re there and we know they’re there… The most we can do is put the traps.”
Despite how unsettling the incident may seem, others noted that pests onboard are unfortunately not uncommon. “Planes fly to different locations, food gets consumed onboard, and you never know what’s in someone else’s suitcase or carry-on,” one Redditor commented. “Even five-star restaurants have to contend with pests.”
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for American Airlines told Newsweek, “We are aware of this concern and are investigating. We have no other similar reports, but out of an abundance of caution, we are deep cleaning the aircraft in question. We regularly perform such deep cleans of our aircraft interiors.”
What to Do if You Spot Cockroaches on a Flight
If you encounter insects onboard, whether in economy or first class, here are steps to take:
1. Notify the crew immediately.
Point out the insect without touching it and ask for your seat area to be checked or sanitized.
2. Request a seat change if possible.
Most crews will accommodate such requests, especially on long-haul or overnight flights.
3. Document the incident.
Take photos or videos discreetly, including your seat number and surroundings and keep a note of the time.
4. Report the issue post-flight.
File a complaint with the airline directly and include all documentation. You may be eligible for compensation such as miles, flight credits or refunds.
5. Sanitize your belongings.
When you get home, wash clothes and wipe down bags that were near the affected area.
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