CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) banned a male passenger for urinating on a co-passenger during a flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Manila (MNL) on December 27, 2024.
The victim, Jerome Gutierrez, was reportedly asleep when the man, sitting nearby, began urinating on him. The airline has since confirmed the ban, and the incident has sparked criticism regarding United Airlines’ response.
Photo: Athul Suresh/ An AirsideanUnited Airlines Bans Passenger
On December 27, 2024, during a flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Manila, a disturbing incident occurred. Around four hours into the flight, a man allegedly stood up from his seat and urinated on Jerome Gutierrez, who was sleeping in business class.
The victim’s stepdaughter, Nicole Cornell, provided this account to SFGATE. Gutierrez was startled when he woke up to find the man urinating on him, initially thinking it was a dream.
Cornell explained that flight attendants advised her stepfather not to confront the passenger, fearing it might lead to a violent altercation.
United Airlines provided Gutierrez with a set of pajamas to replace the soiled clothing, but the airline did not immediately address what Cornell described as a serious biohazard.
In her comments to SFGATE, she expressed her disgust with how the situation was handled, criticizing the airline for prioritizing its operations over her stepfather’s well-being.
Following the incident, United Airlines took action by banning the man involved. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed to SFGATE that the individual responsible for the urination had been permanently banned from flying with the airline.
This decision highlights the severity of the incident and United’s commitment to passenger safety and comfort.
Photo: By Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK – Boeing 777-300ER ‘N2639U’ United Airlines, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81690305Public Reaction
Cornell also shared that the man apologized to her parents and pleaded with them not to press charges.
However, the emotional and physical toll on Gutierrez remained a significant concern. The incident has raised broader questions about how airlines manage in-flight conflicts and the procedures they follow in handling such disturbing events.
The incident quickly gathered media attention, with many criticizing United Airlines for its lack of immediate action and the perceived mishandling of the situation.
While the airline’s decision to ban the passenger was seen as a necessary response, the delay in addressing the issue raised concerns among many travelers about how airlines prioritize passenger safety in extreme cases.
Photo: Ian Abbott | FlickrSimilar Incident
A similar event occurred in 2023 when a drunk man urinated on a fellow female passenger aboard an Air India (AI) flight traveling from the United States to India.
Following the incident, a police complaint was filed against the man, Shankar Mishra, and he was arrested. However, Mishra was later granted bail. In addition, Air India took action by placing him on its “no-fly” list due to his disturbing behavior.
Mishra, who was the vice president of Wells Fargo’s India chapter, was fired by the company following the incident.
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