An AlMasria Universal Airlines flight attendant struck a 23-year-old Moscow passenger with a sharp high heel during landing, according to Telegram channel Baza. The traveller, identified as Yulia, was returning to Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport from the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada alongside her sister when the incident took place.
The dispute began when Yulia, who suffers from a chronic bladder condition, left her seat to use the aircraft lavatory as the flight approached its destination. Despite the plane commencing its final descent, she waited in line and used the restroom before attempting to return to her seat.
Restroom dispute during flight descent
As Yulia stepped out of the bathroom, a cabin crew member seated nearby allegedly kicked her above the knee with the sharp heel of her shoe. Because the aircraft was preparing to touch down, Yulia was forced to take her seat immediately without further discussion.
Once seated, Yulia explained what had occurred to her sister, who immediately began recording video footage of the flight crew on her mobile phone. Members of the cabin crew then attempted to grab the device out of her hands to stop the recording.
Police report filed at Sheremetyevo Airport
After the flight landed at Sheremetyevo International Airport, Yulia reported the physical assault to Russian police officers at the terminal. She also submitted a formal complaint directly to AlMasria Universal Airlines requesting an official investigation into the crew members involved.
Airline background and flight safety rules
AlMasria Universal Airlines is a private Egyptian airline headquartered in Cairo that operates scheduled and charter services connecting holiday destinations along the Red Sea to international cities across Europe and Russia. Hurghada is one of Egypt's principal tourist hubs, frequently hosting Russian holidaymakers travelling on direct charter routes to Moscow.
Standard international aviation safety regulations require all passengers to remain in their seats with seatbelts securely fastened during aircraft descent and landing. Cabin crew members are also required to take their assigned jump seats during these critical phases of flight to ensure safety.
In a separate recent incident in the United States, a passenger physically attacked a flight attendant by striking her in the face during a flight. Following that incident, the passenger was arrested and subsequently bit a police officer on the finger while in custody.
