Delta Air Lines Inc said it was taking new steps to ensure the safety of food it serves and the FBI said it has begun a criminal probe after what appeared to be sewing needles were found in sandwiches on four flights from Amsterdam to the US.
Suspected needles were discovered in food by two passengers flying to Minneapolis and one customer on an Atlanta-bound flight. A federal air marshal on another flight into Atlanta reported an affected sandwich, and inspections by Delta found foreign objects in two sandwiches on a flight headed to Seattle.
The sandwiches were supplied by Gate Gourmet, Delta's caterer out of Amsterdam, the airline said.
Jim Tonges, who was injured by a needle in his sandwich, described the moment when he realised what was in his food.
"When I bit into it, it was like something jabbed me in the top of my mouth. My first impression was it was like a club sandwich, and maybe there was a toothpick in it, that type thing. And so I tried to get it out, and it was, you know, it was stuck in there, so I had to dig it out.
"When I got it out, I discovered it was a one-inch long needle. It was just like a sewing needle, but it didn't have an eye on end, it was sharp, pointed on both ends," Mr Tonges said.
A Delta spokeswoman said the sandwiches, which are provided to business travellers free of charge, have been replaced as menu items with pre-packaged pizza on flights from Amsterdam.
FBI Special Agent Stephen Emmett said his agency has started a criminal inquiry into the matter, led by its Atlanta field office.
