Key facts
- A father and daughter are suing Delta Air Lines and Endeavor Air for $2.35 million.
- The lawsuit alleges a flight attendant falsely accused the father of human trafficking and sexual abuse of his daughter.
- The incident occurred on a Delta-operated flight in 2019.
- Law enforcement questioned the father and daughter upon landing, but no charges were filed.
- The family claims the event caused severe emotional trauma, reputational damage, and lasting psychological consequences.
A lawsuit seeking $2.35 million has been filed by a father and his daughter against Delta Air Lines and its regional partner Endeavor Air, stemming from an alleged false accusation of human trafficking and sexual abuse made by a flight attendant in 2019. The family claims the attendant became suspicious of an interaction between the then-teenage daughter, Madison Cupp, and her father during a flight, despite other family members being present. The complaint states the attendant reported her suspicions to the captain, leading to a law enforcement response upon landing at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.
Upon arrival, officers boarded the plane and separated Madison from her family, questioning her about her relationship with her father and whether she had ever been harmed. Her father was also questioned and read his Miranda rights, with investigators reportedly asking about sexual abuse. The lawsuit asserts that much of this questioning occurred publicly, exacerbating the family's humiliation and distress. No criminal charges were ultimately filed against the father.
The lawsuit, filed by Madison Cupp and her father, contends that the airlines failed to exercise reasonable care and inadequately trained employees to differentiate innocent family interactions from potential warning signs of trafficking. They are seeking $2 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages. The plaintiffs allege the incident caused severe emotional trauma, reputational damage, and lasting psychological consequences for Madison, including reluctance to show affection to male relatives and persistent fears of family separation.
This case is not the first time Delta has faced similar accusations. In 2021, Peter Espinosa publicly claimed a Delta flight attendant accused him of trafficking his special-needs daughter, alleging racial profiling and unwarranted scrutiny in an open letter to Delta's CEO.