Airline sued over sex toy in suitcase

Delta Airlines says it has a duty to search bags

By Steve Kingstone BBC correspondent in Washington

A woman passenger in the United States is suing Delta Airlines for sexual discrimination after being publicly forced to remove a sex toy from her luggage.

Thirty-six year old Renee Koutsouradis had just taken her seat on the plane at Dallas airport when her name was called out over the tannoy.

She was ordered off the plane and told to open her suitcase, which had been removed from the hold when something inside started vibrating.

Mrs Koutsouradis explained that the source of the vibrations was an adult sex toy which she and her husband had bought in Las Vegas.

'Humiliated'

Her lawsuit alleges that in full view of the other passengers she was made to hold up the device, while airline staff allegedly laughed hysterically and made comments of a sexual nature.

Mrs Koutsouradis was eventually allowed to repack and return to her seat.

A spokeswoman for Delta Airlines insisted the company had a duty to investigate anything questionable in its passengers' luggage.