How having sex in toilet on a plane can land you in trouble: A TikTok lawyer’s perspective
A TikTok lawyer has shared his legal insight on a viral video of a couple caught having sex in toilet on a flight to the UK.
Ugo Lord, 28, who has 6.7 million followers on the app, reacted to a clip that showed a flight attendant opening the door to the toilet, revealing a man and a woman inside doing something sensitive.
The video was filmed on an easyJet flight from London to Ibiza on Sept. 8. While it is both salacious and amusing, it has sparked Lord’s commentary and public interest.
The Salacious And Amusing Video
It begins with a flight attendant, following probable complaints or suspicions, attempting to open the lavatory door. Suddenly, a man and a woman, in a state of undress, are having sex in toilet. Therefore, this has made their intimate activities abruptly interrupt. The cabin is then filled with the audience’s laughter and shouts of encouragement directed at the flight attendant.
In contrast, the cabin crew at the rear of the plane appears embarrassed, perhaps unprepared for such a risque disturbance. The culmination of the incident is the couple’s escort off the aircraft in Ibiza by police, a mortifying conclusion to their high-flying antics. However, it is not clear if any action was taken against them.
Attorney Lord’s Reaction
Attorney Lord’s legal dissection. Credit: UgoLord/YouTube
In his TikTok response, Attorney Ugo Lord has provided a careful and detailed legal analysis of the incident involving the couple caught in the airplane lavatory.
Lord begins by acknowledging that there isn’t a specific law in the United States that explicitly prohibits intimate encounters in an airplane lavatory. Nevertheless, this does not mean that such actions are exempt from potential legal repercussions.
Lord then delves into the potential legal implications for the couple, focusing on two specific charges: indecent exposure and interference with the flight crew.
“And, makes this couple guilty of potential charges” he concluded.
Legal Repercussions
According to Lord, even with the lavatory door closed, an airplane is still a public space. This means that individuals involved in such acts could potentially face charges of indecent exposure. Indecent exposure is classified as revealing one’s genitals in public in a manner that’s likely to offend others, and it’s considered a misdemeanor in most states. In this case, it is having sex in toilet on an airplane.
In U.S. v. Ferguson, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces outlined the elements indecent exposure as: willful and wrongful exposure of certain parts of one’s body to public view in an indecent manner, and under circumstances that were prejudicial to good order and discipline.
In addition to the potential charge of indecent exposure, Lord highlights another legal repercussion the couple might face: interfering with the flight crew. This crime, as stipulated in 49 U.S. Code § 46504, can result in up to 20 years in prison. The law states that any individual on an aircraft who, by assaulting or intimidating a flight crew member or flight attendant, interferes with the performance of their duties, or lessens their ability to perform those duties, can be fined, imprisoned, or both.
Given that the flight attendant had to intervene and the flight was disrupted, it is safe to say that the couple have interfered with the crew’s duties.
Public’s Attention
Lord’s video has received over 166 thousand likes and 6000 comments on TikTok. Obviously, many users have expressed their thoughts on this shameful situation.
“i hope they learned their lesson. That is so embarrassing, i would just die right there” one user wrote.
“20 years? Imagine sitting next to a dude in prison and being like “What are you in for?” He answers “I had sex with my girlfriend in an airplane bathroom”” another subscriber joked.
There was also one user, who shared the “behind scenes” of this couple.
“Saw this in the news. It was his Birthday and he just met the girl at the airport before the flight. When he got home his mother gave him a few words in his ear in an interview they both did.”
Conclusion
Beyond the immediate laughter and amusement, this incident has far-reaching implications. For the couple involved, having sex in toilet led not only to their removal from the flight but also to potential legal charges. For other passengers, this event served as a reminder of the consequences of disregarding public decency norms.
While the video may have been entertaining for some, you should bear in mind that actions, even those taken at 35,000 feet, have consequences!