- A lawsuit claims United Airlines mistreated two Jewish passengers on a flight from Mexico to Texas.
- One passenger says a pilot forced him out of the airplane bathroom for taking too long.
- The complaint accuses United Airlines and federal agencies of physical harm and discrimination.
An Orthodox Jewish passenger on a United Airlines flight says a pilot forcibly removed him from the airplane’s bathroom while he was experiencing constipation.
In a lawsuit filed this week, Yisroel Liebb said the “visibly enraged” pilot broke the lock on the restroom door and forced Liebb out while his pants were around his ankles, exposing his genitalia to other nearby passengers.
Liebb and another passenger he was traveling with, Jacob Sebbag, who is also Jewish, claim they suffered physical injuries, emotional distress, and discrimination at the hands of airline staff and federal agents on the flight from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston, Texas.
According to the complaint, seen by Business Insider, the events unfolded on January 28, 2025, after a flight attendant woke Sebbag and asked him to check on Liebb, who had been in the bathroom for about 20 minutes.
Liebb responded that he was experiencing constipation and would exit shortly, but the pilot demanded he leave immediately, the lawsuit said.
The plaintiffs claim that after Liebb was removed from the restroom, the pilot “proceeded to repeatedly push” them back to their seats while making discriminatory remarks about their Judaism.
Upon arrival in Houston, agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the Transportation Security Administration boarded the plane and restrained Liebb, forced his arms behind his back, and handcuffed him, according to the complaint. Sebbag was also detained after confirming that Liebb was in his phone contacts, the lawsuit states.
According to the lawsuit, both men were placed in separate holding cells, subjected to searches, and endured excessive force, including painfully tight handcuffs.
As a result of their detention, the plaintiffs say they missed their connecting flight and were forced to incur additional expenses.
The lawsuit, filed by the Law Offices of Christian Martinez, PLLC at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, cites violations of the Montreal Convention, which governs international air travel and protects passengers from harm.
Business Insider contacted Martinez’s office for comment.
The complaint accuses United Airlines and the federal agencies of physical harm, unlawful detention, and religious discrimination.
The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages for their alleged injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses, arguing that their mistreatment was fueled by discrimination and unnecessary aggression by airline staff and federal authorities.
Business Insider contacted United Airlines, TSA, and DHS for comment.
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