CHICAGO- An Israeli military veteran who lost his leg during the 2014 Gaza conflict has filed a negligence lawsuit against United Airlines (UA), alleging airport staff failed to provide mobility assistance at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV).
The lawsuit, filed late last week in February 2026, in a district court in Illinois, seeks damages under the Montreal Convention, which governs airline liability during international flights.
United Airlines Faces Lawsuit from Israeli Veteran
The plaintiff, identified as YK, is a reserve soldier of the Israel Defense Forces who was severely and permanently injured during the 2014 Gaza War.
Israel launched its ground operation in the Gaza Strip on July 17, 2014, after alleging that Hamas violated a humanitarian truce by infiltrating Israel through underground tunnels to attack a kibbutz.
The conflict, referred to by Israel as Operation Protective Edge, resulted in 67 Israeli soldiers killed and 469 injured. Palestinian fatalities in Gaza reached as many as 2,310, according to reported figures from that period.
YK sustained catastrophic injuries during the conflict. He underwent an amputation of one leg and multiple invasive surgeries to his hand, spine, and other parts of his body. The injuries left him permanently disabled and dependent on a battery-powered mobility device.
Now residing in Illinois, YK traveled with United Airlines to Israel in November 2025 for a one-week visit.
The outbound flight from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Tel Aviv (TLV) proceeded without incident. He was allowed to use his powered mobility device up to the boarding gate.
The dispute arose during his return journey. According to the complaint, airport staff at Ben Gurion Airport required YK to surrender his wheelchair at the check-in counter.
According to PYOK, the lawsuit alleges that United Airlines failed to provide alternative assistance to help him reach the aircraft.
As a result, YK claims he was forced to move through the airport on one leg in order to reach the departure gate.
The complaint states that he suffered “significant physical pain, bodily injury, and aggravation of pre-existing medical conditions as a direct result of United’s conduct.”
Application of the Montreal Convention
The lawsuit seeks damages under Article 17 of the Montreal Convention. This international treaty holds airlines liable for injuries sustained by passengers during the course of international carriage, including boarding and disembarking.
Article 17 explicitly references boarding and deplaning. However, courts have acknowledged that determining when “boarding” begins can present a legal gray area.
In some jurisdictions, courts have permitted claims for injuries that occurred inside airport terminals before passengers physically entered the aircraft.
One notable example involved passenger Andreas Wuchner, who was allowed to pursue legal action against British Airways in the United Kingdom after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in 2017.
He slipped on a puddle of Baileys Irish Cream in the departures hall. A judge ruled that the injuries could have been prevented if airline staff had covered the spill or warned passengers of the hazard.
YK’s case may test how broadly U.S. courts interpret airline responsibility for events occurring within airport facilities during the pre-boarding process.
United Airlines’ Past Mobility Issues
In 2023, United Airlines (UA) promised to make a raft of improvements for wheelchair and mobility-impaired passengers after federal investigators slammed the carrier following the death of a disabled passenger.
Engracia Figueroa died in October 2021, following a short spell in the ICU after she developed an ulcer from sitting in an inappropriate wheelchair, which then became infected.
Figueroa’s bespoke customized wheelchair had been damaged at the hands of United during a flight from Washington National Airport (DCA), but the airline only provided an inadequate manual wheelchair as it attempted to get her specialist mobility device fixed.
United eventually agreed to replace Figueroa’s customized mobility device for $30,000, but by that point, she had already developed the ulcer that would ultimately claim her life.
Broader Legal and Operational Implications
The outcome of this case could influence how courts define the scope of airline liability under the Montreal Convention during pre-boarding procedures.
A ruling in favor of the plaintiff may encourage stricter operational controls over how airlines manage mobility assistance through ground service providers abroad.
Airlines operating international routes must align disability assistance procedures with both domestic regulations and international treaty obligations.
Clear coordination between airline staff and airport personnel remains essential to ensuring passenger safety and reducing legal exposure.
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