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A safety inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a lawsuit against 
United Airlines, alleging that he was removed from a flight and banned for life in retaliation for airing safety concerns. Paul Asmus was off-duty when he observed multiple safety violations on a United flight out of San Francisco.
After documenting these violations on his phone, Asmus claims he was confronted by flight attendants before being asked to show the contents of his camera roll. The aircraft eventually returned to the gate, and United pursued further action against Asmus, seeking thousands in restitution and handing him a lifetime travel ban.
FAA Inspector Files $12.75 Million Suit Against United
As reported by People, the FAA safety inspector has filed a civil complaint against United for $12.75 million in damages, claiming loss of earnings, emotional distress and punitive damages. Asmus was off duty when he boarded United Airlines flight 1684 out of 
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on May 12, 2022. After taking his seat, he noticed the seatback pocket in front of him was partially torn off, which he claims “impaired the ability to secure and access the emergency briefing card.”
Additionally, he said a passenger was still standing in the aisle after the aircraft had pushed back and was taxiing, and took photographs to submit as part of an official report. At this stage, United flight attendants intervened, accusing Asmus of taking photographs of them and becoming “combative,” as well as pushing to get a complimentary seat upgrade. Asmus then claims the captain of the flight demanded to see the camera roll on his phone, which he complied with, to prove he had not taken any photos of the flight crew.
Despite this, the aircraft still returned to the gate, and Asmus was deplaned. In a statement to People, Asmus said,
“While United Airlines may attempt to frame this as an ongoing dispute over ‘allegations,’ the core facts have already been adjudicated by the US Department of Transportation, which oversees the FAA. I am standing up to ensure that aviation safety is not silenced by corporate convenience.”
United Sought Civil Penalty
Following the onboard incident, United imposed a lifetime travel ban on Asmus and escalated the situation to the FAA. This prompted the agency to open civil enforcement action against Asmus, with United demanding $3,153 in restitution to cover the cost of returning to the gate.
The FAA inspector says he was treated by United like “a disruptive customer motivated by greed,” accusing the company of building its entire case around “character assassination.” This is in reference to the airline’s claim that Asmus was pushing for a free seat upgrade during the confrontation with flight attendants.
Having been put under investigation, Asmus was subsequently pulled from all duties involving United Airlines, which included an investigation involving the carrier’s Boeing 737 MAX fleet. Although he was off duty at the time, Asmus’ position as a safety inspector at the FAA compelled him to note any significant safety violation and file a report.
Fines, Flight Bans & Jail Time: What Are The Penalties For Disrupting Flights Around The World?
Many countries follow a no-tolerance policy when it comes to jeapordizing the safety of flight and its occupants.
FAA Charges Were Dismissed Last Year
More than three years after the May 2022 incident, the FAA’s charges against Asmus were dismissed by a US Department of Transportation (DOT) judge, who deemed the case “not credible.” Despite this, and after sending multiple requests to the airline to have his travel ban lifted, Asmus is still not able to fly with the airline, which has refused to remove its restriction.
He is seeking a total of $12.75 million in damages, which includes $10 million in punitive damages, $2.5 million for emotional distress, and $250,000 in lost wages. Simple Flying has reached out to United Airlines for comment on this lawsuit and will update this story accordingly, although the carrier has declined to comment with other publications.
