An Orthodox Jewish traveler has filed a lawsuit against United Airlines, alleging that a pilot forcibly dragged him out of an airplane bathroom with his pants down, leading to public humiliation, wrongful arrest, and lasting physical injuries.

The ordeal began mid-flight from Mexico to Texas when the 20-year-old Orthodox Jew got up to use the restroom. Experiencing constipation, he remained inside longer than usual. When he had not returned after 20 minutes, his seatmate became concerned and alerted a flight attendant.

According to the lawsuit, when the crew knocked on the door, he reassured them that he was fine and would exit shortly. But 10 minutes later, the pilot himself arrived, furious and demanding that he come out immediately. Moments later, in an act of sheer aggression, the pilot allegedly broke down the bathroom door and yanked the boy out, exposing him to stunned passengers while his pants were still down.

The young man scrambled to cover himself, humiliated in front of the entire cabin. The pilot, however, allegedly showed no remorse. Instead, he sneered that he would have both Jews arrested, even going so far as to say, “This is how Jews act.”

Upon landing, five U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents boarded the plane and immediately placed both Orthodox Jewish passengers under arrest. According to the complaint, officers cuffed one of them so tightly that he cried out in pain before hauling both men to a detention facility inside the airport terminal.

Despite hours of detention, neither passenger was charged with a crime. By the time they were finally released, their connecting flight to New York had already taken off. Although United Airlines rebooked them on a flight the next day, they were forced to pay out-of-pocket for a hotel stay and food expenses.

The lawsuit, filed against United Airlines, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Transportation Security Administration, accuses the airline and federal agencies of unlawful arrest, excessive force, antisemitic discrimination, and physical assault.

One also claims he suffered head, wrist, and leg injuries when he was violently removed from the bathroom, while both passengers continue to experience severe wrist pain from the excessive use of handcuffs.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)