What was supposed to be a family trip to a wedding turned into a legal battle in the skies. A Georgia man has filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines, alleging that a flight attendant struck him during a heated confrontation thousands of feet in the air. The case is now drawing national attention, raising concerns about airline staff conduct and passenger safety.

A Family Trip Turns Chaotic

Mohammad Shibli, a Georgia resident, was traveling from Atlanta to Fresno in July with his wife and their two young children to attend his sister-in-law’s wedding. According to Shibli, the flight spiraled out of control after a dispute with a Delta flight attendant that escalated in shocking fashion.

Shibli’s attorney, Ali Awad, announced the lawsuit during a press conference this week, outlining a timeline of events that he claims shows clear misconduct.

The Dispute Begins

The conflict reportedly began when Shibli and his wife requested water for their crying two-year-old son. The flight attendant allegedly refused, telling them they had to wait until the beverage cart reached their row. While another attendant eventually provided the water, the incident left the couple unsettled.

When the same flight attendant later reached their row with the cart, she asked Shibli if he wanted a drink. Already holding water, he declined. According to Shibli, the attendant continued pressing him, despite his refusal.

“I asked her to leave me alone,” Shibli said. “She then asked if I wanted the police to meet me at the gate, implying she would have me arrested.”

Shibli claims he was stunned by the threat. When he questioned her remark, she allegedly ignored him and continued down the aisle.

From Words to Confrontation

Matters escalated further when the flight attendant later brushed against Shibli with enough force to draw the attention of another passenger. “What’s her deal?” the nearby traveler reportedly asked.

At that moment, Shibli alleges, the flight attendant leaned in close to his ear and whispered an offensive remark. Feeling disrespected, Shibli admits he responded with “a few bad words.”

That’s when, according to his account, the situation turned physical.

“It was at that time, the Delta attendant took a few steps toward me and struck me with an open palm as hard as she could,” Shibli recalled.

The slap was so forceful that another passenger sitting directly ahead claimed they heard it clearly—even through noise-canceling headphones.

Passenger Testimony

One eyewitness described the startling moment:

“I heard the flight attendant speaking, but I couldn’t make out the words. Then there was this sudden, loud smack. I immediately pulled out my earbud and turned around, only to see her and the man behind me yelling at each other.”

Shibli said he felt trapped for the remainder of the four-hour flight, humiliated in front of his family and powerless to protect his young son from the disturbing altercation.

“No one should ever experience physical abuse like this, especially while stuck mid-air with nowhere to go,” he said at the press conference.

After Landing

When the flight touched down, Shibli says he witnessed law enforcement officers questioning the Delta flight attendant. His attorney later suggested that the confrontation may have been fueled not only by the water dispute but also by his wife’s T-shirt, which featured the word Palestine.

Attorney Ali Awad emphasized that the case is about accountability and safety:

“This is not just about one slap. It’s about whether passengers can feel safe and respected in the hands of airline employees.”

What Comes Next

Delta Air Lines has not yet issued a detailed public statement addressing the lawsuit. The incident, however, has sparked a wave of online debate, with some demanding greater scrutiny of flight attendant behavior and others questioning whether tensions in confined airspaces can escalate too quickly.

The lawsuit could now set a precedent for how airlines handle allegations of physical misconduct between staff and passengers. For Shibli and his family, though, the legal case is just the beginning of a painful story that started on what was supposed to be a joyful trip.