A United Airlines passenger claims he was forced off a flight after spending too much time in the bathroom due to constipation.
The flight was traveling from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston when Yisroel Liebb, from New Jersey, said he was removed in handcuffs after landing. He and his friend, Jacob Sebbag, missed their connecting flight because of the incident. Liebb alleges that they were taken through the airport by officers and placed in a holding cell.
In a lawsuit filed on March 19, Liebb stated that he was in the plane’s bathroom for about 20 minutes when a crew member woke up Sebbag and asked him to check on him. Sebbag knocked on the door, and Liebb explained he was dealing with constipation and would be out soon.
Ten minutes later, the pilot reportedly told him to leave the bathroom immediately. Liebb said he responded that he would be out shortly. However, the pilot allegedly broke the lock, forced the door open, and pulled him out while his pants were still down.
This left Liebb exposed in front of other passengers and crew members. The lawsuit states: “The pilot became visibly upset, broke the lock, and forced the door open, pulling Liebb out with his pants still around his ankles, exposing him to Sebbag, flight attendants, and nearby passengers.”
According to Liebb, the pilot continued to push them toward their seats while making comments about their background. He described feeling humiliated by the situation.
Once the flight landed in Houston, around six Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers reportedly escorted them off the plane. While United Airlines rebooked their flight for the next day, they claim they had to cover the cost of a hotel stay and suffered financial loss.
The pair also said they experienced wrist pain for days due to being handcuffed. CBP released a statement saying officers responded to a reported disturbance at the airline’s request. “Due to the ongoing litigation, we are unable to provide further comment,” said Hilton Beckham, the CBP assistant commissioner for public affairs.