Lawsuit alleges United Airlines kicked off wrong Asian woman after flight delay
An Asian woman is suing United Airlines, claiming she was wrongfully removed from a flight after being mistaken for another Asian passenger seated several rows away. The lawsuit accuses the airline of racial profiling and negligent conduct that caused lasting emotional harm.
Flight diversion and confrontation
The incident occurred on August 29, 2024, aboard United Flight UA1627 from Las Vegas to Washington, D.C. Severe weather forced the flight to divert to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, where passengers remained on the tarmac for an extended delay.
During that time, a male passenger began experiencing a medical emergency, according to PYOK. Christine Kim, one of the plaintiffs and a real estate professional, questioned a flight attendant's decision to dismiss the man's symptoms as a panic attack. The lawsuit describes the crew member's response as 'snarky.' Passengers were eventually allowed to deplane and wait in the terminal.
Trending on NextShark:
Misidentification and removal
As passengers began reboarding an hour later, Jacquelyn Chiao, Kim's business partner and a fellow plaintiff, was stopped at the gate and told she could not return to the flight due to an earlier incident. Chiao, who had remained seated during the entire delay and had been quietly reading her Kindle, says in the lawsuit that she had no involvement in the exchange with the crew.
The plaintiffs allege that Chiao was misidentified based solely on her ethnicity, despite being seated seven rows away from Kim at the time of the incident. Three co-workers stood by Chiao, and as a result, all four women were barred from reboarding, escorted out of the airport by police. They were left to make their own travel arrangements home.
Trending on NextShark:
Lawsuit details
The complaint, filed in March 2025 in the District of Maryland, accuses United of racial discrimination and negligent infliction of emotional distress. It seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.
United reportedly claimed that one of the women had physically pushed a flight attendant, an allegation the plaintiffs deny. The complaint cites multiple witnesses, including an off-duty United employee who allegedly observed the incident. That witness has not been named, citing fear of retaliation.
Trending on NextShark:
United has filed a motion to dismiss and the court has allowed the plaintiffs to amend their complaint.
This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.
Trending on NextShark:
Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.
Subscribe here now!
Trending on NextShark:
Download the NextShark App:
Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Woman found dead in back of vehicle along Baltimore Beltway, Maryland troopers say
A woman was found dead in the back of a vehicle on the shoulder of I-695 in Baltimore County on Sunday morning, according to the Maryland State Police. A trooper stopped to check on a black Jeep Wrangler around 9:45 a.m. near Perring Parkway when a woman was found unresponsive. Emergency responders pronounced her dead in the vehicle, according to state police. The cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
CBS News
19 hours ago
- CBS News
Man rescued after drowning reported at Baltimore pool
A man is in serious condition after he was rescued from a reported drowning at a Baltimore pool Saturday night, according to police and fire officials. The incident occurred at the new Walter P. Carter Neighborhood Pool, which first opened in June. Baltimore Fire and Police officials responded to the reported drowning at 820 E. 43rd Street around 8:40 p.m. When they arrived, police saw a 25-year-old man in the pool with community members trying to remove him. A police helicopter that was patrolling the area landed near the back of the school. An officer immediately began CPR as fire officials arrived on the scene to provide medical care, police said. The man was revived and taken to a hospital in serious condition, officials said. The pool is scheduled to close at 8 p.m., according to Baltimore City Recreation and Parks. When the Walter P. Carter Neighborhood Pool opened in June, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott emphasized the importance of water safety. "We want them to come and have fun in a safe way. Never swim when there isn't a lifeguard," he said. Brooke Bartko, Executive Director of Swim Operations at the Y in Central Maryland, previously recommended that amateur swimmers have a buddy who can be accountable while in the water. "Drowning can happen in as little as a second, so we really want to make sure that we're focusing on those people in the pool," Bartko said.
NBC News
2 days ago
- NBC News
Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists, offering bounties for 15
HONG KONG — Hong Kong's national security police announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent national security law, marking the largest such tally yet. They are accused of organizing or participating in the 'Hong Kong Parliament,' a group authorities in the Asian financial hub say aimed to subvert state power, under the law Beijing imposed in 2020 following months of pro-democracy protests in 2019. The activists are accused of having launched a referendum or run as candidates in the unofficial 'Hong Kong Parliament' group, which authorities say aims at achieving self-determination and drafting a 'Hong Kong constitution.' Police, who said the organization sought to overthrow the governments of China and Hong Kong by unlawful means, said they are still investigating and further arrests may follow. Among those named are businessman Elmer Yuen, commentator Victor Ho, and activists Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. Four of them are subject to previous arrest warrants, each carrying a bounty of HK$1 million ($127,000). Among the remaining 15, for each of whom police are offering a bounty of HK$200,000 ($25,480), are those said to have organized or run in the election and been sworn in as its councilors. None of the accused could be reached for comment. The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of a high degree of autonomy, including freedom of speech, under a 'one country, two systems' formula. Critics of the national security law say authorities are using it to stifle dissent. Chinese and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said the law was vital to restore stability after the city was rocked for months by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests in 2019. Police reiterated that national security offenses were serious crimes with extraterritorial reach and urged the wanted individuals to return to Hong Kong and surrender. 'If offenders voluntarily give up continuing to violate the crime, turn themselves in, truthfully confess their crimes, or provide key information that helps solve other cases, they may be eligible for reduced punishment,' they said in a statement.
