CHICAGO- On December 27, 2024, United Airlines (UA) banned a male passenger for urinating on another passenger during a flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Manila (MNL).
The victim, Jerome Gutierrez, was supposedly sleeping when a man seated nearby began peeing on him. The airline has since confirmed the ban, and the event has prompted criticism of United Airlines’ response.
United Airlines Bans Passenger
On December 27, 2024, a troubling incident occurred on a flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Manila. Around four hours into the flight, a passenger allegedly got up from his seat and urinated on Jerome Gutierrez, who was asleep in business class.
Nicole Cornell, the victim’s stepdaughter, shared this testimony with SFGATE. Gutierrez was taken aback when he awoke to see the stranger urinating on him, originally believing it was a dream.
Cornell added that flight attendants persuaded her stepfather not to engage the passenger, fearing a major conflict.
United Airlines gave Gutierrez a set of pajamas to replace his dirty garments, but the airline did not quickly address what Cornell regarded as a major biohazard.
In her comments to SFGATE, she voiced her anger with how the incident was handled, blaming the airline for putting its operations ahead of her stepfather’s well-being.
Following the event, United Airlines banned the man involved. A spokeswoman for the airline confirmed to SFGATE that the person guilty for the urination has been permanently barred from flying on the airline.
This decision emphasizes the gravity of the situation and United’s dedication to passenger safety and comfort.
Public Reaction
Cornell also stated that the man apologized to her parents and pleaded with them not to file charges.
However, the mental and physical toll on Gutierrez remained a major concern. The incident has prompted larger concerns about how airlines handle in-flight confrontations and the methods they employ in dealing with such upsetting incidents.
The incident received widespread media coverage, with many criticizing United Airlines for its lack of timely response and perceived mismanagement of the matter.
While the airline’s decision to ban the passenger was viewed as an appropriate response, the delay in addressing the matter prompted questions among many travelers about how airlines prioritize passenger safety in extreme circumstances.
Similar Incident
A similar incident occurred in 2023, when an intoxicated man urinated on a fellow female passenger on an Air India (AI) aircraft from the United States to India.
Following the event, a police report was made against Shankar Mishra, who was arrested. However, Mishra was eventually granted bail. In addition, Air India took action by adding him to its “no-fly” list due to his disruptive behavior.
Mishra, the vice president of Wells Fargo’s India chapter, was sacked following the event.
