CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) is at the center of a federal lawsuit after an Asian American passenger was allegedly denied reboarding a flight at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) based on a flight attendant’s accusation intended for another individual. The complaint claims the airline’s crew wrongfully associated her with a previous incident solely based on shared ethnicity.
The lawsuit stems from an August 29, 2024, incident involving Flight UA1627 from Las Vegas (LAS) to Washington Dulles (IAD) that was diverted to Baltimore (BWI) due to severe weather.
The situation escalated after a medical episode onboard and a confrontation with a flight attendant, resulting in the wrongful removal of four Asian passengers.
Photo: By Colin Brown Photography – https://www.flickr.com/photos/145232442@N02/48375074401/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81315086United Airlines Mistaken Identity Lawsuit
The diverted flight UA1627 had been grounded in Baltimore for five hours due to gate congestion caused by severe flooding and hail at Washington Dulles (IAD). Among the passengers were several real estate professionals, including two Asian women who were coworkers but seated apart.
During the extended delay, one of their male colleagues experienced symptoms resembling a medical emergency.
According to the lawsuit, a flight attendant dismissed the man’s condition as a mere panic attack.
One of the Asian realtors reportedly questioned this response, prompting a terse reply. Although no further incident occurred at that moment, passengers remained on board for over an hour before finally being allowed into the terminal.
However, as passengers later began reboarding, the second Asian realtor, seated seven rows away during the earlier interaction and reading her Kindle, was stopped and denied reboarding.
Airline staff alleged she was involved in a physical altercation with a crew member, an event she and others claim never happened.
The complaint asserts United Airlines staff mistook the woman for her colleague based solely on ethnicity. Her friends attempted to advocate on her behalf, but all four were denied boarding and escorted from the airport by armed officers. They had to arrange their return travel independently.
Representative Photo: United AirlinesAllegations of Racial Profiling
The plaintiffs allege that United Airlines not only misidentified the person involved in the confrontation but did so without adequate evidence, citing race as the primary factor.
“Traveling in and of itself can be stressful,” the lawsuit states, “but for the Plaintiffs, this trip became outrageous due to the extent of the Defendant’s persistent inflammatory behavior.”
The women claim emotional distress and are supported by witness statements, including that of an off-duty United employee who allegedly observed the events. For fear of retaliation, the witness’s identity remains undisclosed.
Reported by PYOK, the case illustrates the potential dangers of assumptions made without clear verification, especially when race becomes the underlying basis for enforcement actions.
United Airlines initially filed for dismissal of the suit, arguing that the original complaint lacked sufficient legal grounds. However, the court allowed the plaintiffs to submit an amended version, which is currently awaiting the airline’s formal response.
Photo: By aeroprints.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32564347Operational Delays
Flight UA1627 had departed Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) at 9:00 AM but was forced to divert due to a ground stop at Washington Dulles (IAD).
The stop was triggered by adverse weather conditions, including hail and flooding, which disrupted numerous incoming flights and overwhelmed the airport’s infrastructure.
The aircraft remained grounded at Baltimore (BWI), with passengers confined onboard for several hours before being allowed to deplane. The extended delay and congested terminal conditions contributed to the tension, according to statements made in the legal filing.
Photo: United AirlinesBroader Implications
This incident raises serious questions about passenger identification, de-escalation protocols, and training for in-flight medical assessments. The plaintiffs’ legal team contends that United’s crew failed to properly assess the situation and instead responded with prejudicial assumptions.
As the case moves forward, it may influence future training and sensitivity procedures across major US carriers.
United Airlines (UA), a major legacy carrier headquartered in Chicago, has yet to issue a public comment regarding the amended complaint.
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The post United Airlines Faces Lawsuit After Wrongful Removal of Asian Passenger appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
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