Madison Cupp was 13 at the time of the incident and she says her dad was comforting her during turbulence, leading to the false accusation
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- An Arkansas teenager claims a flight attendant falsely accused her father of human trafficking during a 2019 flight on which he was comforting his daughter during turbulence
- Armed law enforcement allegedly separated Madison Cupp from her family upon landing before determining no charges were warranted
- Cupp is suing Delta and Endeavor Air for $2.35 million, citing negligence and emotional distress caused by the incident
A young woman from Arkansas is suing Delta Air Lines and Endeavor Air for $2.35 million, claiming a flight attendant falsely accused her father of human trafficking her on a flight.
The lawsuit stems from an incident that allegedly occurred in December 2019, but Madison Cupp only recently filed suit against the carriers in a local court on December 29, 2025. According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, Cupp filed a notice to move the lawsuit moved to a Virginia District Court on June 3.
Cupp claims she was traveling with her mother, father and her maternal grandparents from Memphis to Newport News, Virginia. The family says they were heading to the East Coast in order to attend Cupp's older brother's graduation from the United States Coast Guard's A School.
On the second leg of their trip, from Atlanta to Newport News, the plane encountered some turbulence. Cupp, who was 13 at the time, recalls she “began crying.”
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Cupp's father "comforted his scared daughter as any good father would do under the circumstances,” the complaint alleges. At the time, Cupp's grandparents were sitting directly in front of them and her mother was across the aisle, according to the complaint.
Unbeknownst to the family, a flight attendant on board saw the interaction and allegedly contacted the plane's captain to report they suspected a man had trafficked Cupp. She claims the crew member specifically requested a law enforcement response and that Cupp be separated from her family. That information was subsequently shared with a Delta station manager in Newport News, the complaint alleges.
At some point in the flight, Cupp claims the flight attendant “supplemented her initial, false report of human trafficking by also alleging sexual assault.” Cupp claims the crew member said her father touched her “inappropriately."
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When the plane landed in Newport News, she claims “armed law enforcement officers boarded the Delta Air Lines aircraft” and “physically separated [Cupp] from her parents without warning,” took her father in for investigation and read him his rights, per the complaint. It further alleges her father was interrogated in a “public portion of the airport,” in view of onlookers.
According to the complaint, law enforcement ultimately determined there was no probable cause to charge or arrest Cupp's father. Cupp claims the incident “caused severe and permanent harm” to her and her father.
She is accusing Delta and Endeavor Air of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment. She is seeking compensatory damages in the amount of $2 million and $350,000 in punitive damages, plus interest, court costs and fees.
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PEOPLE has reached out to Cupp's attorney and Delta Air Lines, who handles inquiries for Endeavor Air, for comment.
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