Passenger fined for free fruit taken from transatlantic flight
A passenger is warning others not to take free fruit given out on flights into the US after she was pulled over and fined $500 for slipping an apple into her handbag.
Crystal Tadlock had taken the apple offered by cabin crew on the flight from France, but decided to eat it later.
She was pulled over by a customs officer who found the fruit during a random inspection and issued her with the fine.
She is now warning other flyers not to hang on to fruit handed out on flights to the US.
Referring to the customs officer, Tadlock said: "He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive. And I said yeah, I didn’t really get why he was asking that question. And then he said it’s about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500."
Tadlock said she was annoyed that the airline didn’t warn passengers not to take fruit off the plane.
The apple was still in its plastic pouch clearly showing it was from Delta Air Lines.
"I understand the laws and the department of agriculture doesn’t want certain insects in the US but once again, the apple is from Delta and I think that’s the most important part of this story," she said.
In a statement, Delta said: "We encourage our customers to follow US Customs and Border Protection protocols."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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