Couple sue airline over cockroaches

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A Charlotte, N.C., couple are suing Air Tran Airlines, claiming there were cockroaches on their flight and flight attendants ignored their concerns.

Attorney Harry Marsh and his fiancee, Kaitlin Rush, allege negligence and recklessness, intentional infliction of emotional distress, nuisance, fraud, false imprisonment, and unfair and deceptive trade practices in connection with their Sept. 15 flight from Charlotte to Houston, WCNC-TV, Charlotte, reported Friday.

Marsh and Rush say cockroaches were climbing out of air vents and overhead storage compartments shortly after takeoff. In the lawsuit, the couple claim other passengers also became aware of the roaches and it caused distress to a number of passengers.

The lawsuit also claims flight attendants were too busy to look into the problem or didn't believe the problem existed. Marsh said he told a flight attendant about the cockroaches and she put her finger to her mouth, which Marsh said he interpreted as her telling him to be quiet.

The couple are suing for more than $100,000 plus the price of their tickets for emotional and mental distress caused by Air Tran's negligence and failure to provide a clean and pest-free environment.