A law professor is suing Boeing, alleging he suffered serious health problems after being exposed to toxic fumes on a Delta Air Lines flight last year.
Jonathan Harris, an associate law professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, claims the cabin of a Boeing 737 became contaminated during an August 2024 flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles. The lawsuit states that he inhaled a mix of hazardous chemicals, leading to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, muscle pain, vertigo, memory loss, depression, anxiety, and lost wages.
Harris alleges that after landing in California, passengers remained on the runway for roughly 45 minutes while the cabin continued to fill with fumes he described as smelling like “dirty socks.” According to the complaint, another passenger also vomited, and the captain issued an apology over the intercom.
The suit notes that fumes entering aircraft cabins are a known issue in aviation, typically occurring when engine air passes through cabin air systems. Faulty engine seals can release oil, hydraulic fluid, and jet fuel into the cabin. Boeing’s 787 is the only commercial jet that does not draw air through the engines, while all other jets remain susceptible to contamination, the lawsuit states.
Harris filed the lawsuit in Arlington County Circuit Court in Virginia, seeking $40 million in damages plus attorneys’ fees. Boeing and Delta have not commented on the case. In a related measure, Delta announced in September that it would replace auxiliary power units on 300 Airbus A320 planes to reduce the risk of toxic fume incidents.