Needles found in sandwiches on Delta flights
FBI joins investigation to figure out how sewing needles got into turkey sandwiches
The FBI and Delta Air Lines Inc. are launching a criminal investigation after needles were found inside turkey sandwiches on four Amsterdam to US flights, injuring one passenger.
The airline said that what appear to be sewing needles were found in six sandwiches on Sunday. One passenger on a flight to Minneapolis was injured, but the passenger declined to get medical attention, according to Delta spokeswoman Kristin Baur. The other needles were on two flights to Atlanta and one to Seattle.
On the Minneapolis flight, a man bit into a sandwich and the needle punctured the roof of his mouth. Another man bit into a flat needle, but neither swallowed them, Delta tells Fox News.
The TSA told Fox News that it does not believe the incident is a matter of national security.
"Upon notification of reports of possible foreign objects being discovered in meals served on several flights inbound to the U.S. from Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, TSA immediately notified all U.S. air carriers with flights from Schiphol to ensure awareness," the TSA said in a statement.
Baur said flight attendants stopped serving the sandwiches as soon as the needle was discovered. Messages went out to other flights en route from Amsterdam, where the sandwiches had been prepared by a catering company. Another sandwich served on the Minneapolis-bound flight also had a needle, Baur said.
After the needles were found, passengers got pizza instead.
Baur said security for its meal production has been increased and it is using more prepackaged food while the investigation continues.
"Delta is taking this matter extremely seriously and is cooperating with local and federal authorities who are investigating the incident. 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 airline said in a written statement.
The sandwiches were made in the Amsterdam kitchen of catering company Gate Gourmet, and were to be served to business class passengers on Delta flights.
Gate Gourmet spokeswoman Christina 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.
Gate Gourmet issued a statement saying, "We take this matter very seriously, and we have launched our own full-scale investigation." It also said it was "heightening our already stringent safety and security procedures, to prevent any recurrence."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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