NEW YORK- United Airlines (UA) is facing a lawsuit after allegedly hiring a private investigator to surveil a flight attendant recovering from a spinal injury. The employee, based out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), claims he was wrongfully terminated following accusations of unauthorized work in Kissimmee, Florida (ISM).
The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey District Court under case number 2:25-cv-04822, centers around Fillippo Marinesi, who had been with United Airlines since 2014 and received the company’s prestigious One Hundred Award, PYOK flagged.
United Spy and Fired Attendant
In August 2023, Marinesi sustained a spinal injury while operating an ultra-long-haul flight to Dubai International Airport (DXB). Upon returning to the United States, he was placed on medical leave based on his physician’s recommendation, with United granting the necessary time off.
Struggling financially during his recovery—without flight pay—Marinesi moved from the Newark, New Jersey area to Florida to be closer to his family.
He initially informed his United supervisor that he would be staying with relatives. However, due to space limitations, he relocated to a hotel located in the same building as a restaurant owned by his cousin.
United Airlines became suspicious of his activities in early 2024. The airline hired a private investigator to surveil Marinesi in Kissimmee, Florida. Over several days, the investigator photographed him participating in what the airline interpreted as work-related activity—such as handling food inside the restaurant.
These images, along with screenshots from Marinesi’s public social media profiles, were allegedly used by United to build a case that he was working without authorization during his medical leave.
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Disputed Evidence
Marinesi strongly denies the accusations. In the lawsuit, he argues that the surveillance and photos were misinterpreted. He contends that the restaurant had not yet opened to the public and that any activity captured on camera took place during a private family gathering—not formal employment.
No tax documentation, payroll records, or formal employment evidence were produced by United. Despite this, the airline terminated Marinesi based on what he describes as “assumptions and misinterpretations” of the surveillance materials.
The legal complaint asserts that United failed to conduct a thorough investigation before taking disciplinary action. Marinesi is seeking reinstatement, back pay, and punitive damages.
Union Limitations
Marinesi, a unionized employee, found little recourse through union protections. The union did not successfully intervene to prevent his termination, raising questions about the effectiveness of such representation in complex disciplinary disputes involving surveillance and off-duty conduct.
The case has sparked broader discussions about employer surveillance of injured workers, the ethics of covert investigations, and how airlines handle potential medical leave abuse.
It remains unclear what initially prompted United’s suspicions or how common such surveillance practices are within the airline industry.
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