Man Sues United Airlines After Pilot Removes Him from Bathroom and Exposes Him Mid-Flight
A New Jersey man has filed a federal lawsuit against United Airlines after claiming he was forcibly removed from a plane bathroom by the pilot—while still dealing with a medical issue and exposed from the waist down. The lawsuit also alleges discriminatory comments about his religion during the ordeal. According to Local 10 News, the incident happened on January 28 during a United flight from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston, Texas. Liebb says he was suffering from constipation and was in the restroom for 20 minutes before chaos erupted.
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Details of the Lawsuit: Bathroom Break Turns into In-Flight Nightmare
Liebb says what started as a routine restroom stop turned into humiliation, and he’s now suing for damages. The court documents filed in Manhattan federal court lay out a disturbing series of events that allegedly unfolded in front of the entire cabin.
Medical Emergency or Misjudgment?
The lawsuit says Liebb was dealing with severe stomach issues and explained to fellow passenger Jacob Sebbag, also Orthodox Jewish, that he would be out of the bathroom soon. A flight attendant had asked Sebbag to check on Liebb, who assured him he just needed a few more minutes. But after another 10 minutes, the pilot got involved — and that’s when things escalated.
Liebb claims the pilot approached the restroom, yelled at him to get out, then broke the lock on the bathroom door. At that moment, Liebb says his pants were still around his ankles, and he was fully exposed in front of Sebbag, flight attendants, and other nearby passengers. Upon landing in Houston, Liebb and Sebbag were handcuffed by U.S. Homeland Security officers, detained, searched, and missed their connecting flight to NYC. They were allegedly subjected to religious remarks during the incident, according to the filing.
Liebb said the pilot remarked on how “Jews act” and their faith.
Allegations of Religious Discrimination Add Weight to the Case
Liebb and Sebbag, both Orthodox Jews, claim the situation turned discriminatory when remarks about their faith were made during and after the in-flight chaos. The lawsuit calls out United staff and government agents for biased treatment based on appearance and religion.
Claims Include Excessive Force and Religious Bias
According to the lawsuit, Liebb was never violent, threatening, or disruptive. He needed a little more time in the restroom. Instead of handling it with compassion, the situation escalated to public exposure and detainment.
The filing points to alleged violations of civil rights, emotional distress, and unlawful search and seizure once Liebb and Sebbag were removed from the flight and interrogated at the airport.
United Airlines Yet to Publicly Respond
Currently, United Airlines has not issued an official comment on the lawsuit. However, their past handling of high-profile passenger incidents has already made headlines — and this latest case could add fuel to the fire.
