Emirates passenger assaulted on flight from Beirut to Dubai

Ahmad Barghouthy says he was assaulted on the flight but was not assisted by cabin crew. Courtesy Ahmad Barghouthy

DUBAI// A passenger on an Emirates flight from Beirut to Dubai claims he was assaulted in a dispute over the positioning of his seat.

Ahmad Barghouthy, 27, got into an argument with another passenger after he was asked to put his seat in the upright position before take off.

“I had put my seat down before the flight took off when I was asked by the man behind to put it up,” he said. “I said that I will do so once the seat belt sign comes on.

“Once the sign came on, I positioned my seat upright. Once we were in the air I put my chair back down and slept through the four-hour flight only to wake up to the same man shouting at me.”

Mr Barghouthy, a Jordanian-Palestinian who lives in the UAE, said he was assaulted and suffered cuts and bruises to his face and arms but was not helped by cabin crew, despite having blood on his shirt and face.

“I left the plane and went to the police station, where I was requested to get a medical report before filing a case because Emirates did not report the altercation,” he said.

“I filed the case, only to find out it had to be closed because the man, although identified, was already out of the country. Emirates cabin crew should have called the police and not let him leave.”

Emirates confirmed it received claims of an altercation between two passengers upon arrival of the plane on Sunday.

“When crew arrived on the scene, one of the alleged passengers involved had already departed the aircraft. Cabin crew acted swiftly and proactively offered support to the other passenger who made the claim, and asked if he required to call security,” said a spokesperson. “The passenger declined support and departed the aircraft. The safety of passengers is of paramount importance and will not be compromised.”