ATLANTA- A Delta Air Lines (DL) passenger claims he was poisoned by a toxic plant while flying from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) on October 21, 2025. The traveler, seated in first class, says his salad contained black nightshade — a poisonous weed — leading to severe illness mid-flight.
After reporting the issue, the passenger alleges that a flight attendant confiscated the evidence, calling it “Delta’s property.” Paramedics met the aircraft on arrival in Seattle, where he received medical attention for poisoning symptoms.
Delta Toxic Plant Meal
The passenger, returning home from visiting his terminally ill father, ordered the Southwest Harvest Salad from Delta Air Lines’ first class menu.
While eating, he noticed an unusual bitter taste and turned on his overhead light — revealing a stalk of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), complete with flowers.
Black nightshade is a toxic weed found in agricultural environments. Consuming even a small amount can trigger symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea within hours.
In higher doses, it can cause confusion, slowed pulse, and, in extreme cases, respiratory distress. Though fatalities are rare, the plant is not safe for human consumption.
After realizing what he had eaten, the passenger reported the contamination to lead flight attendant Larisa. He says he intended to keep the remaining plant specimen to show paramedics, but later discovered that the attendant had taken it, refusing to return it or present it to medical staff on arrival.
Official Remarks
Upon landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), paramedics boarded the aircraft and treated the passenger for poisoning.
He exhibited common symptoms associated with Solanum nigrum ingestion — severe nausea, cramping, and vomiting — but recovered without long-term harm.
The passenger later contacted Delta Air Lines (DL) to report the incident. According to him, the airline’s response was limited to an offer of 3,000 SkyMiles, which he described as dismissive.
Delta, in a statement to ViewfromtheWing, said:
We take this report seriously and remain in touch with the customer. Our next steps are to investigate what is being said, and we’ll go from there. Delta has stringent security and quality assurance measures embedded within our onboard food and beverage operation.”
Food Safety and Airline Accountability
Airline catering operations are subject to strict food safety regulations. However, incidents involving foreign or toxic materials occasionally occur due to the complexity of supply chains and outsourced catering services.
Black nightshade contamination suggests a possible breakdown in ingredient sourcing or quality control at the supplier level.
For passengers, experts recommend reporting any unusual taste or appearance of food immediately, avoiding further consumption, and documenting the evidence with photos if possible.
Physical evidence — like in this case — is crucial for medical evaluation and airline investigations.
Similar Incident
Last year, Delta Air Lines temporarily limited meal choices on several international routes after an in-flight food contamination incident led to an emergency landing. The move affected 75 flights worldwide as the airline prioritized passenger safety and food quality assurance.
The precaution followed a Detroit (DTW) to Amsterdam (AMS) flight that diverted to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) after multiple passengers fell ill. Delta confirmed the temporary meal changes lasted only two days before full service resumed.
Delta Air Lines restricted its international economy class meal options to a single pasta dish following a case of suspected food contamination onboard a July 3, 2024, flight from Detroit (DTW) to Amsterdam (AMS).
The flight diverted to New York (JFK) when about two dozen passengers, along with the pilots, became ill after consuming allegedly moldy chicken.
According to reports shared with DailyMail.com, crew members also experienced mild symptoms. In response, Delta immediately suspended its standard meal variety on 75 international flights operating on Wednesday and Thursday of that week. Cabin crew were instructed to carefully inspect all meal trays before serving passengers.
A spokesperson for the Atlanta (ATL)-based carrier confirmed the decision was taken “out of an abundance of caution” and emphasized that full in-flight meal service had been restored once safety checks were completed.
NBC reported that the temporary restriction affected routes departing from multiple U.S. hubs toward Europe, Asia, and South America.
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