A British barrister is suing Qatar Airways after claiming he was being bitten by a poisonous spider while flying between Doha and Cape Town.
Jonathon Hogg, from London, said he felt a “small, sharp pain” while on the flight.
He almost lost his leg and doctors told him he could have died from the bite by the flesh-eating brown recluse spider, the Telegraph reported
He spent a month in hospital in South Africa, undergoing three operations and a skin graft, but is still receiving medical treatment three months later.
Hogg has launched legal action against the airline, which he says has refused to accept responsibility.
He said: “They have made no attempt to resolve the issue and have basically said it was nothing to do with them. All this has left me very traumatised but determined to seek justice.
“No one should have to go through what I have and if the airline has made a mistake it should take responsibility.”
A Qatar Airways spokesman said it had not yet received notice of any legal action.
“The only known interaction between the airline and Mr Hogg regarding this incident, which he claims happened on a Qatar Airways aircraft in June, was via our website a week after his travel was complete,” he told the newspaper.
“No report was filled with any staff on board regarding this incident.
“We have also not been advised of any legal proceedings regarding this incident. In the circumstances we cannot comment further but will, of course, investigate any further information which is brought to our attention formally.
“Qatar Airways takes the safety and security of our passengers very seriously.”