[Tony Montana]

…after steward burst in on him on the toilet mid-flight because he'd been in there for more than 15 minutes

The aftermath of the incident video is on the Daily Mail link at the bottom

A passenger who spent more than 15 minutes on the toilet of an Easyjet plane mid-flight claims he’s a victim of racial profiling. Adil Kayani, 35, has been offered £500 as a gesture of goodwill and an apology from the airline, but he’s still not happy. He was sitting on the toilet with his trousers around his ankles when staff opened the door for ‘safety and security’ because he’d been in there for so long.

The incident happened two hours into a flight from Marrakesh to Manchester Airport after a winter break.

Adil said that he told them that he would be out in a minute after hearing a ‘heavy knock’ on the door. He said: ‘But then the lock turned from red to green. Someone had opened it from the outside and forced their way in. ‘I was still sat on the toilet and I was completely exposed. I shouted get out and he shut the door immediately. ‘They didn’t do this to anyone else on the flight. It’s not as if I was in the toilet for a long time. I feel completely violated.’

EasyJet said they were concerned for his welfare, but Adil says there was more to it. He said: ‘I think it was racial discrimination. They can see the colour of my skin. I was racially profiled. It was discrimination. I think it is Islamophobic. ‘I feel like my dignity was violated and my dignity is more important than the money. ‘I’m just not happy with that. I want a proper apology from the individual who I feel was not only dismissive, but extremely rude and arrogant. ‘I was made to feel like a criminal. It was really humiliating for me. ‘That is the first time anything like that has ever happened to me. The only way I can make sense of it is because of my racial background.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/18/easyj...nutes-8923597/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-incident.html

[Tony Montana]

I say bravo to the cabin crew. They were just doing their jobs and following safety procedures. Imagine if the man had an heart attack and collapsed? What then?

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Tony Montana

I say bravo to the cabin crew. They were just doing their jobs and following safety procedures. Imagine if the man had an heart attack and collapsed? What then?

Had a heart attack, collapsed and then said "I'll be out in a minute"?

It does seem more likely that they thought he was doing something dodgy to be honest - and he's probably right that he was profiled. I find it extremely unlikely they'd have barged in on a white man, and actually even less likely that they'd have barged in on any woman.

Ifbhe had been in there for 30 mins+ then I think you could make a valid argument for having to check that nothing was amiss... But 10-15 mins when someone is just trying to take a ****?

[armand.kay]

If he really said he would be out in a sec when they knocked then they had no reason to force their way in imo. 15 mins is long but not long enough to be so concerned that they had break in despite hearing a response from the guy.

[Alf]

15 minutes is long time for a Tom Tit.

He must have got a spot of Jeremy Kyle's, sat there that long. And they put everyone in a foul mood.

[armand.kay]

sometimes a **** just takes 15+ mins, he needs more fibre in his diet.

[LaLaLand]

Get that man some Fruit & Fibre fgs.

He'll have a fissure next, must be straining.

[hijaxers]

Originally Posted by Jonnii

Get that man some Fruit & Fibre fgs.

He'll have a fissure next, must be straining.

Prob trying to give birth to a bunch of grapes its the 'pile ' high club.

Flight from Marrakesh - could have swallowed drugs 15 mins in lav is stretching it a bit.

[smudgie]

Hope there was more than one loo on the flight.
15 minutes is inconsiderate when it’s a shared loo, you can only cross your legs for so long.

[UserSince2005]

how disgusting.

I think if hes been in there 15 mins, its lose lose. I wouldnt be going anywhere near that toilet.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Had a heart attack, collapsed and then said "I'll be out in a minute"?

[Oliver_W]

I will say I've had some absolutely long and vile shits after having lots of spicy food.

[Northern Monkey]

Maybe the poor fella had had a curry the night before and had bad guts.

Maybe the cabin crew was desperate for a pee?

[bitontheslide]

I would imagine that there are a standard set of guidelines on when a particular bathroom visit becomes suspicious, and speaking personally, i would prefer plane crew were vigilant than were busy selling duty free or lottery tickets.

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

I would imagine that there are a standard set of guidelines on when a particular bathroom visit becomes suspicious

There probably are, I guarantee that one of them is not "barge through the door without even giving enough warning for the person to wipe their arse and pull up their pants". They should at LEAST have said something like "I have to inform you that following security guidelines, I have to open this door from the outside if you don't come out in [set time]" to give whoever is in there time to at least get themself off the toilet and covered up? Even have a printed notice inside the toilet that says "10 minutes maximum, if you are unwell and need prolonged toilet access please talk to a member of crew" or something... I mean, on these small planes that often only have one toilet, that would probably be a courteous thing to have anyway.

Honestly, if we're at the point of being so "security conscious" that we've abandoned the concept of human decency and the right to a bit of privacy on the toilet then what is even the point any more?

[Cherie]

Obviously it seems the crew handled it badly, but then in the heat of the moment we are all human and make mistakes, and honestly 15 minutes in a toilet when there are only 2 available is taking the piss (pun)

I would imagine it was someone who saw him go in or was waiting for the toilet that brought it to the attention of the crew rather than the crew noticing as well, so what do you do in that instance ignore a passengers concern?

[Strictly Jake]

Yet the man doesn't even mention the inconvenience he himself had caused being in the toilet that long?! Although if I'm on my phone when on the toilet(gross but I think we all do it) I can spend like 20 mins without even realising. But when it's a plane and there is only one toilet it's a bit selfish...

[Cherie]

I read in the Metro this morning that the steward knocked but the guy didn't respond so I guess its one mans word against the other, but the airline will side with the customer

[Oliver_W]

He's got his compensation, what else does he want, a gold plated apology letter?

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

He's got his compensation, what else does he want, a gold plated apology letter?

He got compensation for having constipation.

[Ashley.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I read in the Metro this morning that the steward knocked but the guy didn't respond so I guess its one mans word against the other, but the airline will side with the customer

Well publicly they have to.

It's possible that this man did respond but his response went unheard which would somewhat justify the steward's actions. But if they assumed that he was planning some sort of attack, as the man suggested, then bursting in on him wouldn't have been the best idea anyway.

Either way, the blame doesn't lie with the steward or the airline. The events that have happened in the past and in recent years are to blame. Would this have happened to a white man? Potentially not. It's a shame, really. And I do feel for the man, as he's right - he was robbed of his dignity and he feels as though he was being accused of something terrible. But like I said - he shouldn't be arguing with the airline and throwing accusations back at them.

[parmnion]

He could have been planting a bomb though.