“Constipated” Traveler Claims United Airlines Pilot Broke Into Lavatory And Pulled Him Off Toilet, Then Launched Anti-Semitic Rant…

A “constipated” 20-year-old man is suing United Airlines, claiming a United pilot broke into the lavatory he was accused of “monopolizing” and pulled him out…with his pants down. The man, who is Orthodox Jewish, is also alleging anti-Semitism.

Constipated United Airlines Passenger Claims Pilot Yanked Him Half-Naked Out Of Lavatory, Then Launched Anti-Jewish Tirade

On January 28, 2025, Yisroel Liebb was traveling from Tulum, Mexico (TQO) to Houston (IAH) on a Boeing 737-800 with an “acquaintance” and went to the lavatory 30 minutes after takeoff in the rear of the aircraft.

20 minutes later, a flight attendant woke up Jacob Sebbag, Liebb’s traveling companion, to ask him to check on his colleague…he was still in the lavatory.

Liebb responded that he was “alright but experiencing constipation and would be out shortly.”

10 minutes later, Liebb was still in the restroom and a pilot appeared, asking Sebbag to return to the lavatory and tell Liebb he must come out. They both approached the lavatory, where the pilot “began yelling loudly at Liebb, demanding he leave the bathroom immediately.”

The lawsuit contends that when Liebb did not instantly comply, the pilot broke open the lavatory door and pulled him out… half-naked.

Seconds later, Liebb spoke through the door, notifying the pilot that he was okay, that he was finishing up, and that he would be out momentarily. The pilot became visibly enraged, broke the lock on the door and forced the door to the bathroom open, pulling Liebb out of the bathroom with his pants still around his ankles, exposing his genitalia to Sebbag, several flight attendants, and the nearby passengers on the plane. Liebb quickly pulled his pants back to his waist after being allowed to set his feet.

With Liebb now out of the lavatory, the pilot proceeded to “repeatedly push them” back to their seats while threatening to have them arrested and “making scathing remarks about their Judaism, and how ‘Jews act.’”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was also named as a defendant, with the lawsuit alleging DHS officials boarded the plane and brought Liebb and his seatmate to a detention facility in handcuffs (it isn’t clear why his friend was arrested too). When asked why they were being held, both were told, “This isn’t county or state, we are Homeland, you have no rights here.”

The handcuffs were placed tightly to create “severe wrist pain” and Liebb also claims injuries to his head and leg that he blames on the United captain.

United Airlines has refused to comment on this lawsuit.

You can read the complaint here.

Very Damaging Allegations…

The allegations are very damning. There also seems to be guilt by association going on here, because I see no valid reason why Sebbag was arrested too. Because he was “dressed like a Jew” too?

I will reserve final judgment for now and would love to interview the pilot onboard (I’m not surprised by the poor treatment by the folks at DHS, but the conduct of the pilot surprises me).

But it would not surprise me if it was not a pilot at all involved in the incident, but simply the purser (who wears two strips). Would a pilot really come out for this sort of thing?

What If You Have Constipation Onboard?

The case presents an interesting question…what are you supposed to do if you are constipated (or more like if you have irritable bowel syndrome) and need an extended period in the lavatory?

I spoke to a United flight attendant about this and she told me (speaking for herself, not the company), “You have to realize what usually goes on when people are in the lavatory that long…they are either doing drugs or wanking off. Does it really take 30 minutes to confirm you are constipated?”

I find that a fair question…but on the other hand, a former colleague had IBS and would routinely make extended trips to the bathroom…and I’m confident he was not just playing games on his cell phone.

Lavatories, like overhead bins, are shared space. Hogging a lavatory for 30 minutes when there are 200 people onboard is not polite…but if this was genuine incontinence, I have a lot of sympathy for Lieb.

CONCLUSION

A United Airlines passenger is suing United Airlines and the Department of Homeland Security for what he calls degrading and anti-Semitic treatment. His allegations are quite serious but also present a real dilemma when onboard an airplane with 200 people sharing three lavatories.

What are your thoughts on this case?

image: A United 737 lavatory