Chinese passenger pricked by stray needle on flight gets depression, seeks compensation

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. 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.”<br/>