Plane Passenger with ‘Constipation’ Claims Pilot Broke Down Door After He Was Taking Too Long in Bathroom: Lawsuit

A United Airlines passenger says he was yanked out of a plane bathroom by a pilot spewing hateful remarks. Now, he’s suing the airline and multiple State departments.  

According to a complaint filed with the Southern District of New York, New Jersey residents Yisroel Liebb and Jacob Sebbag were aboard United Airlines flight 1601 departing from Tulum, Mexico and heading to Houston on Jan. 28 when Liebb left his seat to use the restroom. 

About 20 minutes later, a flight attendant allegedly awakened Sebbag and requested that he check on Liebb, who hadn’t returned to his seat. Sebbag complied and confirmed with Liebb through the bathroom door that he was fine but experiencing constipation, according to the complaint.

After another 10 minutes, Sebbag was allegedly then approached by the flight’s pilot and asked to check on Liebb again. According to the complaint, the pilot began shouting at Liebb through the bathroom door and then turned to Sebbag and “began loudly demanding he force Liebb out of the bathroom.” 

Almost immediately, the complaint says, Liebb informed the pilot that he would leave the restroom momentarily, however, the pilot “became visibly enraged, broke the lock on the door, and forced the door to the bathroom open.”

The pilot then allegedly pulled Liebb out of the aircraft’s stall while his pants were still down to the floor, exposing his genitalia to “Sebbag, several flight attendants, and the nearby passengers on the plane.”

According to an official from the Department of Homeland Security, Liebb and Sebbag had ketamine pills in their possession and were exhibiting erratic behavior, including barricading themselves in the bathroom. The official maintains that United asked Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to step in.

In a statement obtained provided to PEOPLE, CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham said, “CBP Officers responded to reports of a disturbance on a flight at the request of the airline. Due to the ongoing litigation, we are unable to provide any further comment.”

United Airlines declined to share a comment with PEOPLE on the incident. 

The document details Liebb pulling up his pants, followed by the pilot pushing Liebb and Sebbag back to their seats while allegedly making antisemitic remarks about “how ‘Jews act.’”

When the flight landed at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport, the aircraft was boarded by five to seven Customs and Border Protection agents from the Department of Homeland Security who allegedly pulled Liebb from his seat and handcuffed him before escorting him off the plane. 

One of the agents then proceeded to ask Sebbag if “Liebb was in his phone contacts,” and after confirming he was, pulled Sebbag from his seat and handcuffed him as well, the document alleges. When Liebb asked what they were being detained for and stated that he had a legal right to know, the agent allegedly replied, “This isn’t county or state, we are homeland, you have no rights here.” 

Liebb and Sebbag were allegedly taken to separate cells in the airport where they were “handcuffed to tables” while they and their possessions were searched, according to the complaint.

Due to the alleged treatment they received throughout the incident, Liebb says he suffered injuries to his head, legs, and wrists and Sebbag suffered severe wrist pain from his handcuffs for several days following.  

Both Liebb and Sebbag were dressed in “traditional Jewish garb” when the incident occurred. Because of this, they believe that the United Airlines pilot purposefully shared misinformation with the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the Transportation Safety Administration, which the think led to them to be unlawfully detained and searched.

Due to the alleged altercation, Liebb and Sebbag missed their connecting flight to New York. United Airlines gave both plaintiffs complimentary flights for the following day, however, as both passengers “had to incur additional charges for hotel and food during the delay,” the cost of the delay negated the price of the flight home, according to the complaint.

Liebb and Sebbag are seeking damages for emotional distress, and the costs of their legal fees. Though the initial complaint was filed on March 19, the filing attorney has been notified to amend the misfiled complaint by March 24 to continue with court proceedings.