India, March 9 -- A Chinese man is seeking 130,000 yuan (US$18,000) in compensation from China Southern Airlines after being pricked by a syringe needle on a flight, claiming the incident has left him with severe emotional distress and depression.

According to mainland China media outlet Jimu News, as reported by SCMP, the passenger, identified as Fu, was retrieving his phone from the seat pocket when he felt a sharp sting in his finger. He discovered that he had been pricked by a syringe needle, which he suspected was from an insulin injection.

Flight attendants disinfected his finger and reported the incident. Investigations later revealed that the needle had been left behind by a passenger on a previous flight. After landing, the air...