Needles in sandwiches spark panic in US flights

NEW YORK

Delta Air Lines Inc. said it was working with federal authorities after what appeared to be sewing needles were found in food on four U.S.-bound flights that left July 15 from Amsterdam, injuring one passenger.

The needles were found in sandwiches made by the airline’s Amsterdam caterer, Gate Gourmet, Delta spokeswoman Chris Kelly said in an email July 16. The FBI and Netherlands officials are investigating, Delta said.

“Delta is taking this matter extremely seriously and is cooperating with local and federal authorities who are investigating the incident,” the airline said in a statement. “Delta has taken immediate action with our in-flight caterer at Amsterdam to ensure the safety and quality of the food we provide onboard our aircraft,” the statement said. One person on a flight to Minneapolis was injured but declined medical treatment.

A suspected sewing needle was also found in a sandwich by a passenger on an Atlanta-bound flight. A U.S. air marshal found another while flying on another Atlanta-bound flight. Another apparent needle was found aboard a Seattle-bound flight in a sandwich that had not been served.

Christina Ulosevich, a gategroup spokeswoman, said the caterer was cooperating fully with investigators. Ulosevich said the company has gotten no reports of similar incidents on any of the other airlines it serves out of Amsterdam. She said the company did not yet know how the needles got into the sandwiches.