A United Airlines pilot allegedly pulled a passenger out of the bathroom on a plane with his pants still around his ankles for taking too long.
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According to a report by The Independent, Yisroel Liebb, 20, was on a United Airlines flight en route to Houston, Texas, on January 28. Liebb, who was reportedly wearing a Jewish religious garb, left his seat to use the bathroom roughly 30 minutes into the flight. Airline staff noticed Liebb was in the restroom for a while. They asked one of Liebb's travel companions to check on him and make sure he was alright.
The report explains that Liebb had been in the restroom for roughly 20 minutes. He reportedly told his companion, Jacob Sebbag, he was "experiencing constipation" and would be out shortly. Sebbag allegedly relayed the information to airline staff. However, just 10 minutes later, the pilot asked Sebbag to accompany him to the bathroom again.
The pilot reportedly started yelling at Liebb, demanding he get out of the toilet. He then broke down the restroom door and dragged him out with his pants around his ankles, exposing him to nearby passengers and airline staff.
The United Passengers Missed Their Connecting Flight
Per Aviation 24, a lawsuit explains that Homeland Security detained the pair when they arrived in Texas. Officers reportedly said, "You have no rights here," and tightened Liebb's handcuffs when he asked why they were arrested. The lawsuit also alleges that United Airlines staff made racist remarks. The pair ultimately missed their connecting flight to New York.
United reportedly provided the pair with a free flight the following day. However, Liebb still had to cover food and hotel expenses for the night. The lawsuit accuses United Airlines and Homeland Security of discrimination, humiliation, and using excessive force. Liebb reportedly suffered from severe wrist pain for days after the incident. Per the Independent, the complaint reads that Liebb felt "sexually violated and embarrassed after having been publicly exposed in the nude."
Authorities reportedly held both in separate cells in Texas. They were eventually released without charges. A spokesperson for United Airlines told the outlet on Thursday via email, "We don't have anything to share."
