Delta Air Lines controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
FTC Opens Inquiry into Personalized Pricing and Compensation
Investigation
The Federal Trade Commission launched an inquiry into whether Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Target and Walmart use consumers' or workers' personal data to set prices or compensation. As part of the inquiry, the agency ordered the companies to provide information. The inquiry concerns the potential use of personal data in determining the prices charged to consumers or the compensation paid to workers.
The FTC launched an inquiry into whether Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Target and Walmart use consumers’ or workers’ personal data to set prices or compensation, and ordered the companies to provide information.
Stated objective. Assess whether prices or worker compensation vary based on personal data.
Company response
Denial — Instacart
does not and will not engage in surveillance pricing.
Denial — JetBlue
does not use personal information or web browsing history to set individual pricing.
Denial — Delta Air Lines
Delta also denied using personal data to individually price fares
Source excerpt
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said it launched an inquiry into nine companies, ordering them to provide information about how they use consumers' and workers' personal data to set prices and compensation.
Federal regulators announced Wednesday that they are examining whether major airlines, ride-hailing companies, delivery services and retailers are using personal data to charge different customers different prices for the same products and services or determine how much gig workers are paid.
The orders were sent to Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Target and Walmart, according to the FTC.
2025
Family sues Delta and KLM over alleged bed bug infestation on flight
Lawsuit filed
A Virginia family filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia against Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The family claims they were bitten by bed bugs during a KLM-operated flight from Atlanta to Amsterdam, which they purchased through Delta's SkyMiles program. They are seeking $200,000 in damages.
Stated objective. To block the slot sale.
Company response
Clarification — Delta Air Lines
As this pending litigation eventually states, the allegations at issue relate to flights not operated by Delta Air Lines
Source excerpt
As this pending litigation eventually states, the allegations at issue relate to flights not operated by Delta Air Lines
The Albuquerques are asking the court to award them $200,000 and any other relief deemed just and proper for their injuries, medical expenses, and other damages.
In the complaint, which was filed on Dec. 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
2021
Pilot sues Delta over alleged crew-app trade-secret theft
Lawsuit filed
Delta was sued by its pilot Craig Alexander, who alleges that the airline stole his QrewLive crew-messaging app and used it as the basis for its own app. Delta said the allegations were not an accurate or fair description of its development of its internal crew messaging platform.
Company response
Denial — Delta
While we take the allegations specified in Mr. Alexander’s complaint seriously, they are not an accurate or fair description of Delta’s development of its internal crew messaging platform.
Source excerpt
While we take the allegations specified in Mr. Alexander’s complaint seriously, they are not an accurate or fair description of Delta’s development of its internal crew messaging platform.
Captain Craig Alexander sued Atlanta-based Delta for trade-secrets theft in Georgia state court on Monday.
Delta Air Lines Inc. was sued for more than US$1bil (RM4.2bil) by one of its own pilots, who claims he developed a text-messaging app for flight crews that the airline stole and used as the basis for its own app.
2020
Delta fined for discrimination against Muslim passengers
Fine or penalty
The U.S. Department of Transportation fined Delta $50,000 over two incidents involving Muslim passengers, finding that the airline violated its anti-bias law. The report says both incidents occurred in 2016.
Source excerpt
Because of these two incidents, the U.S. Department of Transportation hit Delta with a fine of $50,000 for violating their anti-bias law.
Both of the incidents reportedly occurred in 2016.
2020
U.S. fines Delta over removal of three Muslim passengers
Fine or penalty
The U.S. Transportation Department fined Delta $50,000 after the airline ordered three Muslim passengers off planes even though its security officials had cleared them to travel. Delta denied discriminating against the passengers but agreed it could have handled the situations differently.
Company response
Denial — Delta Air Lines
Delta denied that it discriminated against the passengers in two separate incidents
Clarification — Delta Air Lines
Source excerpt
Delta denied that it discriminated against the passengers in two separate incidents but agreed it could have handled the situations differently, according to a consent order released Friday by the U.S. Transportation Department.
Delta Air Lines is being fined $50,000 for ordering three Muslim passengers off planes even after the airline's own security officials cleared them to travel.
2020
U.S. Transportation Department fines Delta $50,000 over passenger removals
Fine or penalty
The U.S. Transportation Department fined Delta $50,000 over two incidents in which three Muslim passengers were removed from planes. The department alleged that Delta violated anti-bias laws; Delta denied discrimination but said the incidents could have been handled differently.
Company response
Denial — Delta Air Lines
Delta denied that it discriminated against the passengers in two separate incidents but agreed it could have handled the situations differently, according to a consent order released Friday by the U.S. Transportation Department.
Remediation — Delta Air Lines
The Atlanta-based airline said that after the 2016 incidents it improved its procedures for investigating suspicious behavior to make it “more collaborative and objective.”
Source excerpt
The Atlanta-based airline said that after the 2016 incidents it improved its procedures for investigating suspicious behavior to make it “more collaborative and objective.”
Delta denied that it discriminated against the passengers in two separate incidents but agreed it could have handled the situations differently, according to a consent order released Friday by the U.S. Transportation Department.
2020
US Department of Transportation fines Delta over discrimination allegations
Fine or penalty
The US Department of Transportation fined Delta Air Lines $50,000 to settle allegations that it discriminated against three Muslim passengers removed from flights. The department said Delta violated anti-discrimination laws; Delta disagreed that it engaged in discriminatory conduct.
Company response
Denial — Delta Air Lines
Remediation — Delta Air Lines
Following the July 2016 incidents, Delta said it had reviewed and enhanced its procedure to investigate suspicious activity “to make it more collaborative and objective.”
Source excerpt
In its consent order, the department said it found Delta “engaged in discriminatory conduct” and violated anti- discrimination laws when it removed the three passengers.
Following the July 2016 incidents, Delta said it had reviewed and enhanced its procedure to investigate suspicious activity “to make it more collaborative and objective.”
2020
Lawsuit against Delta over Los Angeles fuel release
Lawsuit filed
Attorney Gloria Allred is suing Delta for negligence over the jet fuel release affecting people in the Los Angeles area.
Source excerpt
The lawsuit also claims that the coating from the fuel caused the victims to feel sick, dizzy and nauseous.
Allred, who is suing the airline for negligence.
As part of its emergency landing, 15,000 gallons of jet fuel in the form of mist was released into the atmosphere impacting multiple areas of Los Angeles
2020
South Coast AQMD issues Delta a notice of violation over fuel release
Fine or penalty
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued Delta a Notice of Violation, stating that the fuel release caused a public nuisance in violation of its Rule 402 and a California health and safety law.
Company response
Investigation — Delta
I can confirm that we have opened an internal investigation, but will be declining further comment due to pending litigation
Source excerpt
South AQMD issued a Notice of Violation to Delta Airlines on Friday for causing a "public nuisance in violation of the agency’s Rule 402 and California Health and Safety Code Section 41700."
A Delta Airlines flight that dumped 15,000 gallons of jet fuel onto multiple people, schools and buildings in the Los Angeles area during an emergency landing is facing a civil lawsuit and violations.
As part of its emergency landing, 15,000 gallons of jet fuel in the form of mist was released into the atmosphere impacting multiple areas of Los Angeles