A cabin ceiling leak on a United Airlines flight in the United States and the carrier's inadequate response have sparked controversy. Public criticism is mounting after a passenger claimed he received no proper assistance despite being drenched by an unidentified liquid throughout the flight.
"Water Poured From the Ceiling"…Passenger Soaked Throughout Flight
According to the New York Post and other outlets on Tuesday (local time), the in-flight leak occurred recently on a United Airlines flight traveling from Houston to Chicago.
Kevin Glover, 39, a passenger on the flight, was sleeping in his seat before takeoff when he was awakened by water droplets falling on his head. As the aircraft moved onto the runway, the drops grew larger and began pouring down in a stream, and the phenomenon reportedly continued intermittently throughout the flight.
By the time the plane arrived, Glover's clothes and underwear, as well as his belongings including his mobile phone, were all soaked. The liquid was suspected to be condensation from the cabin's air conditioning system, but the exact cause has not been confirmed.
A video he posted on social media showed water continuously running down his hat and clothes, and the footage spread widely, racking up millions of views.
"They Just Gave Me Tissues"…Airline Response Under Fire
At the center of the controversy is the airline's response. Glover claimed that "there was no response for a while even after I pressed the call button, and even then, the flight attendant only handed me a few tissues."
He also said he was not offered a seat change despite empty seats being available in the cabin, and that flight attendants' attempt to temporarily address the problem by stuffing napkins into the ceiling gap caused water to pour down all at once.
"I was left soaking wet for the entire flight," he said. "I was treated as if I were the one who had to solve the problem." He added, "I felt completely ignored, even mocked," expressing his anger.
Online users also reacted critically, calling the response "unacceptable."
Belated Apology…"It's Not About Compensation"
As the controversy spread, United Airlines belatedly contacted Glover to apologize and offered him a $167 (about 240,000 won) ticket refund and mileage as compensation.
Glover, however, rejected the offer. "I wanted to make the point that this situation should not be repeated, not simply to receive compensation," he said. "Passengers have the right to safety, respect, and responsible service during their flight."
The airline mentioned that the liquid falling from the ceiling was likely moisture from air conditioning condensation, but has not provided an official explanation regarding the exact cause and circumstances of the incident.
