UNITED Airlines has been forced to apologise after refusing a passenger on a flight because he filmed a row with one of its staff members.
Navang Oza, from California, got into an argument with a customer service agent over the size of his baggage at Armstrong International Airport in Louisiana.
The frustrated traveller decided to film the row which happened on Saturday morning.
During the recording, the agent can be heard saying: “You do not have my permission to videotape.”
Moments later, the agent tells a fellow United Airlines worker: “What’s his name? Cancel the reservation.”
When Navang asked why his reservation was cancelled, the agent replied: “Because you do not have my permission.”
Oza said he started the recording after the agent told him he would have to pay £232 to check a bag that he said actually cost £97 for his flight to New Orleans.
The agent tells him in the clip: “I don’t know the situation. I know that you’re videotaping, and I know that this is unacceptable.”
During the confrontation, an officer approaches the scene and asks Oza: “Sir, you have the right to do what you want. It’s a public space. Have you been drinking?”
Oza replied “obviously” but claims he had only drunk two beers before the drama unfolded and the agent never mentioned his intoxication level.
After he was escorted from the airport, he posted the footage on Twitter saying: “I guess @ united harassment isn’t limited to the unfriendly skies. @ unacceptable @ united @ lackofcustomerservice.”
Attorney Bobby Hjortsberg, who defended the passenger’s actions, told Fox 8 Live: “I don’t think that what he did was wrong at all, especially not legally.
“It’s a public place. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He didn’t break any laws. He was simply just trying to document what was happening.”
In response to the footage, United Airlines said in a statement: “The video does not reflect the positive customer experience we strive to offer and for that we apologise.
“We are reviewing this situation, including talking with Mr Oza and our employees, to better understand what happened.”
The apology comes just days after the troubled airline said sorry again after they flew a passenger 3,000 miles in the wrong direction.
Lucie Bahetoukilae was meant to be on a flight from Paris to Newark – but was gobsmacked when she ended up in San Francisco.
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The passenger, who speaks no English, even showed her boarding pass to cabin crew after getting on the plane when she discovered someone was sitting in the seat she thought was hers.
But instead of spotting the error, the worker instead directed Lucie to another seat on the same flight.
The gaffe comes after shocking footage showed bloodied Dr David Dao being dragged off a plane after he refused to give up his seat.
Then The Sun revealed that United made an out-of-court settlement after giant rabbit Simon died in their care.
Recently a Kansas woman has claimed she was she was forced to pee in a cup aboard a United Airlines flight.
Nicole Harper said she had tried to use the toilet on a United flight last month but she was told to return to her seat by a flight attendant as the seatbelt sign was on.
In a statement issued by the airline, United claim that the partner-operated Mesa Airlines flight had been midway through its final descent when the incident occurred.
A spokesperson said: “Customer safety is always our first priority. Initial reports from the Mesa Airlines flight attendants indicate that Ms Harper attempted to visit the lavatory on final descent and was instructed to remain seated with the seat belt fastened per FAA regulations.”
They added: “The situation as described by Ms Harper and our employees is upsetting for all involved.
“We have reached out to Ms Harper and our flying partner Mesa Airlines to better understand what occurred.”
The Sun Online has approached United Airlines for further comment.
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