Two US passengers have filed a federal lawsuit against United Airlines, alleging a pilot forcibly removed one of them from the plane’s bathroom and made antisemitic remarks during the incident. Yisroel Liebb and Jacob Sebbag claim that on January 28, after taking off from Tulum, Mexico to Houston, Texas, Liebb was forced out of the bathroom by the pilot, leaving his pants around his ankles. The pilot allegedly also yelled at them, made threats, and used derogatory language about their Judaism.
The lawsuit states that Liebb experienced constipation while in the bathroom and was discovered by Sebbag, who then alerted the flight attendant. However, instead of helping Liebb, the pilot ordered Sebbag to force him out of the lavatory, breaking the lock on the door and physically removing Liebb from the bathroom.
Both men were detained by CBP officers after landing and later found to be American citizens with no grounds for detention. The lawsuit claims that this incident caused significant emotional distress, physical injuries, and financial losses due to delayed travel plans and additional expenses in Houston.
United Airlines has declined to comment on the allegations, while Customs and Border Protection have not responded to requests for information.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/2025/03/23/united-airlines-pilot-bathroom/82624499007