United Airlines and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are facing a federal lawsuit from Yisroel Liebb, an Orthodox Jewish passenger from New Jersey, who claims he was forcibly removed from an airplane bathroom during a flight from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston, Texas.
According to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court, Liebb says he was experiencing constipation and had been in the rear bathroom of the plane for approximately 20 minutes on January 28 when a flight attendant woke his fellow traveler, Jacob Sebbag, from a nap to check on him. Liebb reportedly informed Sebbag of his condition and said he would be out soon. Sebbag relayed this to the flight attendant.
Ten minutes later, the lawsuit alleges, the plane’s pilot approached Sebbag, asked him again to check on Liebb, and then personally addressed Liebb, instructing him to leave the bathroom immediately. Despite Liebb stating that he was nearly done, the pilot allegedly broke the lock, forced the bathroom door open, and physically removed Liebb with his pants around his ankles, exposing his genitalia to nearby passengers, flight attendants, and Sebbag.
Liebb and Sebbag claim the pilot pushed them back to their seats and made comments referencing their religion, including statements about how “Jews act.” Both men are Orthodox Jewish.
Upon landing in Houston, approximately six U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers reportedly boarded the aircraft and escorted the two men off the plane. The lawsuit states that the men were detained, paraded through the airport terminal, placed in holding cells, and had their luggage searched. Liebb alleges that when he asked why they were being detained, a CBP officer tightened his handcuffs and told him, “This isn’t county or state. We are Homeland. You have no rights here.”
Hilton Beckham, CBP Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs, confirmed officers responded to a reported disturbance on the flight at the airline’s request but declined further comment due to the ongoing litigation.
United Airlines also declined to comment on the case. Messages seeking comment from Liebb and Sebbag’s attorney were not returned.
The men said United rebooked them on a flight to New York City the following day at no additional cost. However, they claim the complimentary tickets did not offset expenses for a hotel and food during the delay.
The lawsuit seeks damages for the alleged incident and the treatment that followed.
