Hypersensitivity to radiocontrast media is not a common clinical event, and life-threatening delayed-type hypersensitivity is even less encountered. Herein, we present the case of a 57-year-old man with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, who underwent coronary angiography as part of pre-lung transplant evaluation. After angiography, the patient's oxygen demand substantially escalated over time, and non-cardiogenic lung edema developed. When considering the cause, hypersensitivity seemed more likely than infection. When the patient's clinical condition deteriorated, and even mechanical ventilation and pure oxygen failed to support the patient's respiratory needs, we summoned veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to combat acute respiratory distress syndrome, and used steroids judiciously. The patient recovered gradually and was successfully bridged to lung transplant at post-contrast day 29, after this unexpected delayed-type hypersensitivity crisis was resolved.