Severe Insect Infestation on Turkish Airlines Istanbul-San Francisco Flight

On August 10, 2024, we boarded our Istanbul-San Francisco flight and settled into our seats. A few hours later, we noticed that something was biting my spouse. Upon checking with a light, we discovered countless small bugs on the seat. Initially, the chief cabin attendant claimed that the bugs had come from opened baggage inside the plane. However, after we removed the seat covers, it was clear that these unidentified bugs had made a nest inside the seats, as witnessed and recorded by the cabin crew and several passengers. Some suggested they might be bedbugs or ticks.

These insects got into our clothes, and we even found them in our children’s cherished blankets, which they’ve used since infancy. Regrettably, we had to throw away all these items, including our clothing, in the plane’s trash, as they were infested. The flight was full, and we were told there were only two vacant seats at the front, so we had to complete our long flight with our two children squeezed into two seats, holding them on our laps. We suffered both financially and emotionally, with our skin starting to break out. The chief cabin attendant documented the situation.

I am addressing this directly to the Turkish Airlines General Manager: We have a return flight scheduled and demand to be accommodated in business class as a priority due to this distressing experience. We also request financial and emotional support for the damages we’ve suffered. We paid a significant amount for our tickets only to spend hours cramped in two seats. How is this an example of the care you claim to give your aircraft? It seems that if passengers are flying in economy class, they are left to endure such filth. The state of the toilets was no better; the staff would just spray some air freshener and leave. Spraying perfume periodically is not the same as cleaning. You are endangering people's lives.

We’ve been told that your planes are disinfected after every flight, but it appears to be nothing more than superficial cleaning. I will be sharing these images on all social media platforms. The insects that bit us could very well be carrying diseases. Our 10-day vacation here has started as a nightmare. Additionally, the cabin staff instructed us not to share this information with other passengers.

We urgently await your response and expect both financial and emotional compensation. I am also attaching photos of the insects found inside the seat covers and on our belongings for your reference.