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United Airlines is facing legal action after terminating a 76-year-old aircraft technician who says he took a bottle of water during a medical emergency while working at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Frank Bucci, a longtime United technician based at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), was dismissed in June 2025 following an incident in which he drank a bottle of water from a passenger aircraft while experiencing heart palpitations and lightheadedness.
According to the lawsuit filed in a California district court, Bucci had been working outdoors in warm conditions in April 2025 when he began feeling unwell due to dehydration and prolonged sun exposure. While conducting a routine safety equipment check onboard a United aircraft, he reportedly felt at risk of passing out and took a bottle of water from onboard supplies to stabilize himself.
Bucci did not dispute taking the water but explained the circumstances to management (citing an urgent medical need). Despite this, the airline initiated a formal disciplinary process that ultimately led to his termination. The lawsuit alleges disability discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. It argues that the airline failed to appropriately consider the medical nature of the situation and Bucci’s long tenure with the company.
Anthony’s Take: This is an interesting case. It seems unlikely that a water bottle would lead to termination. Let’s see how this plays out and if the age discrimination claims hold.
(Featured Image Credit: United Airlines.)
(H/T: Paddle Your Own Kanoo.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
