A United Airlines business class passenger has been permanently banned from flying with the airline after a bizarre and shocking incident on a long-haul flight from San Francisco to Manila.
The trouble began four hours into the 15-hour journey when Jerome Gutierrez, a passenger seated in business class, woke up to an unexpected and unpleasant surprise. A fellow traveler had allegedly urinated on him while he was fast asleep and strapped into his seat.
Gutierrez’s stepdaughter, Nicole Cornell, recounted the ordeal, saying, “He thought he was dreaming until he realized he was soaked from the stomach down in the man’s urine.”
The passenger responsible for the incident reportedly stood up, bypassed the restroom, and relieved himself directly onto Gutierrez. Despite the bizarre behavior, flight attendants advised Gutierrez to avoid confronting the man, fearing it could escalate into violence.
Cornell criticized United Airlines for their handling of the situation. “This is a biohazard! The plane should’ve turned around to address this issue,” she said. “They prioritized the airline’s schedule over my stepdad’s health and comfort.”
Gutierrez had no choice but to endure the remaining eight hours of the flight in his urine-soaked clothes. The offending passenger later apologized and reportedly pleaded with Gutierrez not to press charges.
United Airlines confirmed the incident and stated that they had banned the individual responsible. In a statement, the airline said, “On December 28, we asked police to meet our flight upon arrival in Manila to address a passenger disturbance. We have banned the passenger.”
While this incident is an unusual one for United Airlines, the company has faced other challenges recently, such as dealing with a body found in the wheel well of a flight landing in Hawaii on Christmas Eve.
This particular mid-flight fiasco, however, has left many stunned and highlighted the unpredictable nature of air travel.
