United Airlines is being sued for confusing one Asian woman with another and eventually kicking them both off of the flight
According to court documents filed in Maryland, four real estate professionals from northern Virginia are suing United Airlines for racial discrimination, negligence/breach of duty, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Jacquelyn Chiao, Christine Kim, Adriana Parvanova, and Danielle Simmons attended a real estate convention in Las Vegas in August 2024. On their return flight, the plane was diverted from Dulles to Baltimore due to weather, and passengers were forced to remain onboard for over five hours, which is in violation of Federal Aviation Regulations.
During this delay, John Doe, their colleague began to sweat and experience severe chest pain. A flight attendant rudely asked him if he was having a heart attack but then dismissed his pain as a panic attack. The attendant allegedly failed to seek medical help, and minimized his condition, as witnessed by all four plaintiffs. Chiao, an Asian woman, asked the attendant why she was being so rude, and asked her to show compassion to a passenger who was in distress.
Eventually, passengers deplaned and waited an additional hour before re-boarding. When re-boarding began, Kim, another Asian woman, was denied entry back on the plane without explanation other than the captain's decision. When two of Kim’s colleagues questioned this and tried to support Kim, they also exited the boarding line. Chiao, who was already on board, disembarked upon learning of the situation.
The pilot then claimed a flight attendant reported being physically assaulted by a “female Asian passenger.” Both Chiao (Taiwanese) and Kim (Korean) denied this, and said no physical contact occurred, as confirmed by witnesses. In fact, Kim never even had verbal contact with the attendant at that point.
All four plaintiffs were barred from boarding, say they were separated from their luggage, and then forcibly escorted out of the airport by armed officers at the behest of United Airlines.
A United employee who was traveling as a passenger witnessed the incident has agreed to testify confidentially. Their name is being withheld until a protective order is in place.
