Summary

Orthodox Jewish passenger Yisroel Liebb filed a federal lawsuit claiming a United Airlines pilot forcibly removed him from an airplane bathroom during a January 2024 flight from Tulum to Houston, exposing his genitalia to passengers.

Liebb said he was experiencing constipation and had been in the bathroom for about 30 minutes when the pilot broke the lock and dragged him out.

After landing, Customs and Border Protection officers detained Liebb and another passenger, allegedly making derogatory remarks about their religion.

United Airlines and CBP declined to comment.