United Airlines Scandal: Orthodox Jewish Passenger Claims Bathroom Horror at 30,000 Feet
A nightmare at 30,000 feet has landed United Airlines and the Department of Homeland Security in a legal storm. Yisroel Liebb, an Orthodox Jewish passenger from New Jersey, is suing after claiming a United Airlines pilot forcibly dragged him out of an airplane bathroom mid-use, leaving him exposed to stunned passengers during a flight from Tulum to Houston.
In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, Liebb describes an ordeal that reads like a scene from a dystopian thriller. Struggling with constipation, he spent roughly 20 minutes in the lavatory before a flight attendant grew concerned and asked his travel companion, Jacob Sebbag, to check on him. Liebb assured Sebbag he was fine and would be out soon, but the flight crew had other plans. Ten minutes later, the pilot took matters into his own hands—literally.
According to the lawsuit, the pilot stormed toward the bathroom, shouted for Liebb to exit immediately, and when Liebb said he was finishing up, the pilot allegedly broke the lock, yanked open the door, and physically pulled him out—with his pants still around his ankles. Liebb claims he was left exposed in front of Sebbag, several flight attendants, and nearby passengers, an experience he described as deeply humiliating and violating.
But the nightmare didn’t end there. According to Liebb, the pilot then shoved the two Jewish travelers back to their seats while making derogatory remarks about their religion and threatening to have them arrested. Upon landing, a half-dozen Customs and Border Protection officers stormed the plane, handcuffed Liebb and Sebbag, and paraded them through the airport terminal before locking them in holding cells.
In a particularly chilling moment, when Liebb asked why they were being detained, he claims an officer tightened his cuffs and sneered, “This isn’t county or state. We are homeland. You have no rights here.”
United Airlines has remained silent on the allegations, while Homeland Security officials have stated that CBP responded to reports of a disturbance but refused to comment further due to ongoing litigation.
Although the airline later provided the men with free flights to New York City, their overnight hotel and food costs rendered the gesture meaningless. Meanwhile, they allege their wrists remained sore for days from the overly tight handcuffs, adding physical pain to an already humiliating experience.
The lawsuit has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with accusations of religious discrimination, abuse of power, and shocking mistreatment aboard a major airline. As the case heads to court, one question looms large: How did a simple trip to the bathroom turn into an international scandal?
