NEW YORK — An Orthodox Jewish passenger alleges that a United Airlines pilot forcibly removed him from an airplane bathroom while he was suffering from constipation, exposing his genitalia to fellow passengers during a flight from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston.
Yisroel Liebb, a New Jersey resident, has filed a federal lawsuit against the airline and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, claiming that officers boarded the plane upon landing and took him away in handcuffs.
In his complaint, Liebb, along with another Orthodox Jewish traveler, reported that they were forced to miss their connecting flight to New York City as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers escorted them through the airport terminal, detained them in holding cells, and searched their luggage.
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in Manhattan federal court. It alleges that Liebb spent approximately 20 minutes in the bathroom at the back of the plane on January 28 when a flight attendant asked Jacob Sebbag, a fellow traveler, to check on him after waking him from a nap.
Liebb communicated his gastrointestinal issues and assured Sebbag that he would be out soon, which Sebbag relayed to the flight attendant. However, about ten minutes later, the pilot approached Sebbag for an update on Liebb.
According to the lawsuit, the pilot demanded that Liebb leave the bathroom immediately. Liebb informed the pilot that he was finishing up.
The pilot allegedly responded by breaking the lock, forcibly opening the bathroom door, and pulling Liebb out while his pants were still down, exposing him to Sebbag, flight attendants, and other passengers.
Liebb and Sebbag stated that the pilot then pushed them back to their seats while making threats of arrest and derogatory remarks regarding their faith and how “Jews act.”
After the flight landed in Houston, the two men reported that approximately six Customs and Border Protection officers boarded the plane to escort them off.
When Liebb asked for the reason for their detention, one officer allegedly tightened his handcuffs, stating: “This isn’t county or state. We are Homeland. You have no rights here.”
Though United Airlines later booked the men on a flight to New York City the next day at no charge, they claim any savings from the complimentary tickets were overshadowed by the costs incurred for an overnight hotel stay and food during their unexpected delay.
