Delta traveler claims he was beaten senseless by fellow passengers after on-board bathroom argument

Delta Air Lines passenger claims he was beaten to death upon landing at Newark Airport by a trio of fellow fliers who kicked, punched and bludgeoned him with a pole metal after an argument in the toilet on board.

Usman Bilawal suffered a concussion from consecutive blows, as well as a torn lower lip so badly it required 25 stitches to close it, according to a federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent. It says the 31-year-old New Jersey resident was first attacked at the arrivals gate, then at the food court – having his cell phone stolen in the process – and that more than two Years later, he still feels the effects of the assault. heartbreaking incident.

“As a result of the attack, Bilawal feared that people would sit or stand behind him, which would negatively impact his work as a driver for Uber,” the complaint states. “Bilawal continues to receive ongoing treatment for paranoia and anxiety following the assault, including regular prescription medication. »

Bilawal is suing Delta for negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract and violation of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. He is suing the three alleged attackers for assault and battery. Lawyer Pasquale Marago, who represents Bilawal, declined to comment on the case.

In court, Delta insisted she had done nothing wrong and blamed Bilawal, at least in part, for what happened, calling Bilawal’s allegations against the business.

On Thursday, Delta spokesperson Morgan Durrant said The Independent“While Delta declines to comment on this ongoing litigation, Delta flight attendants are, first and foremost, safety professionals and we will always support our associates in that regard.”

Bilawal’s alleged attackers, two of whom are identified in the complaint, could not be contacted.

Bilawal’s allegations stem from a Sept. 6, 2022, flight from Atlanta to Newark, which itself was uneventful, according to the complaint filed Oct. 3 in Newark federal court. As the plane taxied toward the gate, a passenger seated two rows in front of Bilawal got up and walked toward the restroom, the complaint states. One of the flight attendants asked the passenger to return to his seat, warning him that the plane would not continue until he sat down, the complaint continues.

The passenger challenged the flight attendant’s order, it continues, and instead of returning to his seat, “approached her in a threatening manner.” In response, other passengers urged the man to sit down, according to the complaint, adding that he “yelled profanities” at the passengers before finally sitting down.

Bilawal wore headphones and, at first, was unaware of the dust. But Bilawal eventually heard the commotion and looked around the plane, the complaint states. It was at this point that he attracted the attention of the angry passenger and his traveling companion, who apparently believed that Bilawal was watching them, and “started shouting obscenities and threatening him”, according to the complaint.

“When you get off the plane, we’re going to fuck you up,” they warned, telling Bilawal they would “catch him outside,” the complaint states.

It says another passenger overheard the two men discussing how they would “handle this without words” after disembarking.

Bilawal claims that one of the flight attendants informed the captain and asked him to ask the police to wait for the plane at the gate, but the police never showed up. So as Bilawal got off the plane, his complaint says he told the flight crew he was being threatened by two other passengers.

Yet, the complaint alleges, the Delta crew “took no steps to ensure that Bilawal could leave the aircraft and the airport safely.” Shortly after he got off the jetway, the complaint says a third passenger hit Bilawal in the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground.

The three men then brutalized Bilawal “while he was on the ground by kicking, punching and hitting him with a nearby metal pole,” the complaint alleges. “The attackers also threw a blue suitcase at him. As Bilawal was attacked, nearby terminal officers and Delta employees took no action to stop the attack or assist. The attackers took Bilawal’s mobile phone and fled after beating him.

He managed to get up and gave chase, catching up with the trio in the airport food court, where they assaulted Bilawal a second time, “beating him the same way they had done at the door,” according to the complaint.

Bilawal’s attackers fled the terminal, but airport officers from the Port Authority Police Department apprehended two of them outside, the complaint states. The third man, who remains anonymous in the complaint, “managed to allude (sic) to the police and has not yet been identified.” (The outcome of the original charges against the two men is unclear; a search Thursday of state and federal court records revealed no settled or pending criminal cases involving either other.)

The injuries, both physical and psychological, forced Bilawal out of work for two months, according to the complaint.

In a formal response filed Oct. 9, Delta argued that any injuries Bilawal may have suffered resulted from the “acts or omissions of others over which Delta had no control” and were “not a consequence foreseeable acts or omissions on the part of Delta. Delta.”

“At all relevant times, Delta has complied with all applicable laws, regulations and standards. Delta expressly denies that the actions of its agents, servants and/or employees were egregious, unreasonable, intentional, willful, extreme, outrageous and/or reckless, as alleged by Plaintiff,” states Delta’s response, asserting that Bilawal – himself must accept some responsibility for the attacks.

The carrier says it reserves the right to seek reimbursement from Bilawal for legal fees and costs “due to the frivolous nature of this action.”