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EasyJet passenger claims airline 'racially profiled' him after staff burst in on him using toilet mid-flight

Adil Kayani said he was discriminated against on a flight from Marrakesh to Manchester earlier this month - © Adil Kayani /SWNS.COM
Adil Kayani said he was discriminated against on a flight from Marrakesh to Manchester earlier this month - © Adil Kayani /SWNS.COM

An easyJet passenger claims he was racially profiled by airline staff who burst in on him while he used the toilet during a flight because he spent too long in the cubicle.

Adil Kayani, 35, was left red-faced when a flight attendant barged in on him whilst he was sat on the loo, with his trousers around his ankles.

EasyJet said staff did it for "safety and security reasons" after Mr Kayani had been in the lavatory for more than 15 minutes.

However, Mr Kayani said he was mortified and was left "exposed" after the male staff member unlocked the door from the outside, two hours into a flight from Marrakesh.

The 35-year-old, a food wholesaler from Birmingham, said: "There was a heavy knock on the door. I shouted 'I'll be out soon hold on a minute'.

Mr Kayani claims he was offered a £500 goodwill gesture but refused it - Credit: Adil Kayani/SWNS
Mr Kayani claims he was offered a £500 goodwill gesture but refused it Credit: Adil Kayani/SWNS

"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."

The incident happened two hours into a flight from Marrakesh, Morocco, to Manchester, on March 5, as Adil was travelling home from a winter holiday.

Mr Kayani claims he was in the toilet for less than ten minutes when the steward opened the door.

However, the airline argues he was locked inside the bathroom for "some time" and staff were concerned for his welfare.

Mr Kayani said he complained to "dismissive" staff.

He added: "When I came out of the toilet I saw the guy who opened the door but he avoided me.

"I was expressing I was unhappy about it.

"I sat back down and a stewardess was sent over to explain. She said it was part of their safety and security policy.

Mr Kayani was offered, which he said he rejected, a £500 goodwill gesture and an apology from easyJet after he complained to company when back in the UK.

Whilst the airline say Mr Kayani was barged in on for concerns over his welfare, he claims to be the victim of "racial profiling", due to his Pakistani heritage and Muslim faith.

He accused staff of interrupting his toilet break after becoming "suspicious" of what he was doing in the loo.

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 individually 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.

An easyJet spokesperson said: "EasyJet is sorry if Mr Kayani is unhappy, however the cabin crew correctly followed safety procedures by knocking on the toilet door and then opening it after there was no answer following a concern that a passenger had been inside for some time.

"This procedure is in place to ensure passenger safety of all passengers on board including the well being of the customer in the toilet.

"There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that race played a role."