CALGARY- WestJet (WS) is facing a defamation lawsuit after a viral confrontation involving Los Angeles actor Charlet Chung on a flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG).
The case gained wide attention after TikTok videos of the incident amassed more than 10 million and 4 million views.
The lawsuit claims that WestJet mishandled the in-flight dispute, targeted the passenger rather than the aggressor, and later issued a defamatory public statement. The filing seeks more than $75,000 in damages in a California district court.
WestJet $75,000 Defamation Lawsuit
Court filings state that the dispute began on WestJet flight WS 1314 on October 28, 2024, after Chung took her front-row seat on a Boeing 737.
She alleges the passenger behind her repeatedly and forcefully kicked her seat. When she looked through the seat gap, she claims he taunted her with an expletive-filled rant that ended with “Oh, chill out, f**k off.”
Chung replied, “Excuse me, did you just tell me to f**k off?” which drew the attention of a flight attendant.
According to the lawsuit, the crew member threatened to remove Chung from the aircraft rather than address the disruptive passenger. Chung attempted to explain, but she alleges the flight attendant refused to listen.
She then began recording on her cellphone. The filing states the flight attendant first attempted to stop her from filming and, when unsuccessful, shifted tone to appear reasonable in front of the camera.
Chung was moved to a different seat across the aisle, where she says the same flight attendant continued making demeaning and embarrassing comments loudly enough for the entire cabin to hear.
After takeoff, she claims she was repeatedly denied bathroom access until she feared she would wet herself.
Another flight attendant later handed her a cup of water filled so high that it spilled over her and onto her seat.
She also alleges she was subjected to sarcasm and threats that police would be waiting at the aircraft door upon landing.
WestJet Statement and Faulty Investigation
A week after the flight, Chung posted videos of her interaction with the cabin crew along with details of the incident. One TikTok video surpassed 10 million views, and another exceeded 4 million.
In response, WestJet issued a public statement asserting that it conducted a thorough investigation and determined that Chung’s claims of harassment and discrimination were unfounded.
The airline also asserted that it never instructed Chung to remain silent and that communication had been routed through her lawyer at her request.
The statement continued by defending the airline’s conduct and said, “We do not intend to discuss this matter anymore in a public forum, and it is unfortunate that Ms. Chung.”
Chung contests the airline’s conclusion and argues the investigation was not credible. The lawsuit states that WestJet never contacted her to provide her version of events, calling the review a “one-sided, and wholly unreliable” inquiry used to publicly discredit her.
Reported by PYOK, the 16-page legal complaint asserts that the airline’s press release harmed Chung’s professional reputation and had direct consequences for her career.
Bottom Line
The filing includes a defamation claim and seeks compensation under Article 17 of the Montreal Convention.
Chung alleges physical injury due to forced seat relocation, emotional distress from refusal of bathroom access, and verbal threats during the flight. She argues these conditions satisfy the treaty’s criteria for airline liability for onboard injury.
WestJet has not yet issued a legal response to the lawsuit. The case is expected to test how airlines handle passenger disputes that escalate into high-visibility public controversies.
The in-flight confrontation has evolved into a significant legal battle, with both sides defending their reputations amid viral social media attention and unresolved questions regarding airline accountability during passenger conflicts.
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