Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Passenger Sues Delta Over Malfunctioning Seatbelt During Landing
Darrin Roth says a seatbelt on his Delta airplane did not work properly during landing.
He says the belt snapped and he was thrown into part of the plane.
He lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital.
Roth says flight attendants checked the belt and found a problem.
Later, he had a heart attack and heart surgery.
He also had surgery on his neck.
Roth believes these medical problems were caused by the airplane accident.
He is suing Delta, but the lawsuit’s claims have not been finally decided.
Darrin Roth alleges a Delta seatbelt malfunctioned while his flight was landing in January 2025.
Roth says he was thrown into a bulkhead, lost consciousness and was taken to a Queens hospital.
He claims he later suffered a heart attack and underwent quadruple bypass surgery.
Roth also underwent cervical fusion surgery in November 2025 and attributes his medical problems to the incident.
His lawsuit accuses Delta of negligent equipment maintenance and seeks unspecified damages.
- Who
- Darrin Roth of Bayside, Wisconsin, is suing Delta Air Lines.
- What
- Roth alleges that a seatbelt malfunction during landing caused him to be thrown into a bulkhead and led to serious injuries and later medical problems.
- When
- The flight incident occurred in January 2025; Roth underwent cervical fusion surgery in November 2025.
- Where
- The flight traveled from Tampa, Florida, to New York City, and Roth was taken to a hospital in Queens after landing.
- Why
- Roth alleges that Delta negligently maintained the aircraft’s safety equipment and is seeking unspecified damages.
- Passenger
- Darrin Roth of Bayside, Wisconsin
- Airline
- Delta Air Lines
- Incident date
- January 2025
- Flight route
- Tampa, Florida, to New York City
- Reported injury
- Roth says he was thrown into a bulkhead and lost consciousness during landing.
- Medical treatment
- Roth says he later underwent a quadruple bypass and cervical fusion surgery.
- Legal claim
- The lawsuit alleges negligent maintenance and seeks an unspecified amount in damages.