In a troubling incident aboard a United Airlines flight from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston, an Orthodox Jewish passenger named Yisroel Liebb has filed a federal lawsuit against the airline and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuit details a distressing episode that occurred on January 28, when Liebb was forcibly removed from an airplane bathroom while he was experiencing severe constipation, leading to the exposure of his genitalia to several passengers.
According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Manhattan federal court, Liebb, a New Jersey resident, spent approximately 20 minutes in the bathroom during the flight. A flight attendant reportedly woke his fellow traveler, Jacob Sebbag, from a nap and asked him to check on Liebb. After Sebbag communicated to the flight crew that Liebb was dealing with a gastrointestinal issue, the situation escalated when the pilot intervened.
About ten minutes after Sebbag's initial inquiry, the pilot approached him and demanded that he check on Liebb again. Frustrated with the wait, the pilot yelled for Liebb to leave the bathroom immediately. When Liebb explained that he was almost finished, the pilot took drastic measures. He allegedly broke the lock on the bathroom door, forcibly pulling Liebb out while his pants were still around his ankles, thereby exposing his genitalia to Sebbag, flight attendants, and nearby passengers.
After this humiliating experience, Liebb and Sebbag reported that the pilot pushed them back to their seats while making threatening comments about having them arrested and making derogatory remarks regarding their Jewish faith. The situation did not improve upon landing in Houston, where approximately six officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection boarded the aircraft and escorting both men off in handcuffs.
Liebb recounted the fear and confusion he felt when he asked why they were being detained. An officer reportedly tightened Liebb's handcuffs, asserting, “This isn’t county or state. We are Homeland. You have no rights here.” The treatment both men received at the airport included being paraded through the terminal, placed in holding cells, and having their luggage searched, effectively causing them to miss their connecting flight to New York City.
Despite the circumstances, United Airlines provided Liebb and Sebbag with complimentary tickets for a flight to New York City the following day. However, the lawsuit highlights that any financial benefit from the complimentary tickets was negated by the unforeseen expenses they incurred during their unplanned overnight stay, including the cost of a hotel and food.
United Airlines has declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings. Furthermore, efforts to obtain comments from the Department of Homeland Security and the legal representatives for Liebb and Sebbag have not been successful as of yet. The incident raises significant concerns about passenger treatment and protocol aboard flights, particularly regarding the rights of individuals during unforeseen medical issues.
