A business class passenger has been barred from all United Airlines flights after allegedly urinating on another passenger on a long-haul flight.
Jerome Gutierrez, a fellow passenger, claimed he fell asleep on the San Francisco to Manila flight and awoke soaked from the stomach down in another man’s urine.
The incident occurred four hours into the 15-hour red-eye flight, forcing Mr Gutierrez to spend the rest of the flight in damp, smelling clothing.
The man who urinated on him was reportedly a complete stranger who, rather than using the restroom, stood up and relieved himself directly on Mr Gutierrez.
Nicole Cornell, Mr Gutierrez’s stepdaughter, told the San Francisco newspaper SFGATE: “He was asleep, buckled in, and was surprised when he looked at the man and thought he was dreaming.
“Jerome realised he was soaked from his stomach down in that man’s urine.”
She said United Airlines had warned her stepfather not to approach the urinating man for fear of a violent confrontation.
She went on to say, “I am disgusted and shocked by how United Airlines handled this! That is a biohazard, and the plane should have turned around to address the situation.
“They put the needs of the airline before my stepdad’s health.”
Anoushah Rasta, a United Airlines spokesperson, confirmed to SFGATE that there was a “disturbance” on the flight and that the instigator had been banned.
“We have banned this passenger,” Ms Rasta stated in an email.
The Standard has contacted United Airlines for further comment.
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