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United Airlines Sued for Alleged Collusion Leading to ICE Detention of Passenger at Phoenix Airport
A Zimbabwean passenger claims United Airlines cooperated with ICE agents to summon her for detention at Phoenix Sky Harbor, leading to two weeks in custody and a legal battle.
The gist
United Airlines faces lawsuit alleging it helped ICE detain a passenger at Phoenix airport via misleading gate announcements.
A passenger on a United Airlines flight alleges the carrier colluded with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to facilitate her detention at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Patience Gore, a Zimbabwean national, was summoned repeatedly by United’s gate agent to the departure gate, where three undercover ICE officers waited to detain her. Gore was subsequently held in detention for two weeks before a judge ordered her release.
The incident unfolded late on March 15 when Gore and her partner arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor to fly United flight UA-483 to Washington Dulles. They had checked in, dropped their bags, and passed through TSA security without incident. While waiting for their delayed flight, Gore heard repeated announcements summoning her to Gate E7. Puzzled but compliant, she proceeded to the gate as requested.
On arrival at Gate E7, United’s gate agent focused solely on Gore’s boarding pass, an interaction that quickly shifted when three plainclothes ICE agents surrounded her without identifying themselves. They made clear she was not free to leave. Gore was removed from the airport and taken to detention, initially in Florence, Arizona, then transferred to Eloy Detention Center. A lawsuit details harsh conditions she endured, including sleeping on a mattress on the floor and denial of basic necessities.
Gore was detained for two weeks before a court ruled she had previously been granted withholding of removal, noting her removal to Zimbabwe was unlikely in the near future. The detention caused her to miss scheduled in vitro fertilization treatment; a later cycle was unsuccessful. She subsequently filed a legal complaint accusing United Airlines of negligence and false imprisonment related to the events at Phoenix Sky Harbor.
The lawsuit highlights that United Airlines is prohibited from communicating with law enforcement agencies such as ICE about passengers, barring certain exceptions. It claims United controlled the passenger announcement system and misused it to create a false impression of airline business, solely to lure Gore to the gate for detainment without a legitimate airline-related reason.
Gore’s suit argues the presence of ICE agents at the gate, the repeated public announcements specifically naming her, and the gate agent’s sudden shift in attention once she was identified, demonstrate a coordinated effort between United staff and ICE. The complaint seeks damages exceeding $75,000 and punitive damages in response to the alleged abuse of authority and violation of her rights.
United Airlines has yet to issue a public response regarding the lawsuit. This case sheds light on sensitive issues at the intersection of airline passenger rights, immigration enforcement practices, and the roles that airlines may play in facilitating government actions within airport terminals.
The outcome of this legal challenge may have broader implications for airline policies concerning coordination with immigration authorities at U.S. airports, especially the use of gate announcements and passenger data privacy. It underscores the tension between airline operational protocols and the protection of passenger civil liberties in the increasingly complex travel security environment.
Frequently asked questions
- What triggered Patience Gore's detention at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport?
- Patience Gore was repeatedly summoned by a United Airlines gate agent over the airport intercom to Gate E7, where she was detained by three undercover ICE agents.
- How long was Patience Gore held in detention and under what conditions?
- She was held for two weeks, initially at Florence, Arizona, then Eloy Detention Center, experiencing degrading conditions including sleeping on a floor mattress and denial of basic necessities.
- What legal claims does Patience Gore make against United Airlines?
- The lawsuit accuses United Airlines of negligence and false imprisonment, alleging the airline misused passenger announcements to purposefully facilitate her detention by ICE at the gate.
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Southwest Airlines Faces Backlash Over ICE Detention of Passenger at Denver Airport
Southwest Airlines has found itself engulfed in a ferocious social media backlash after it was accused of being complicit in the detention of a woman by undercover ICE agents as she went to board a Southwest plane at the Denver International Airport on Tuesday. A video shared on Instagram by Alicia Dantzker shows her female friend called Chantal, being detained by several male ICE agents in the jetway leading to a Southwest Airlines plane. Warning: video contains very strong language. As they lead Chantal out of the jetway and into the main airport concourse, Alicia screams “Help, Help us… ICE is here! Help us!” As onlookers approach to see what is happening, a Southwest Airlines employee attempts to push Alicia back into the jetway, while more undercover ICE agents shove Chantal out of another door that leads to the airside ramp. Other passengers then rush towards the expansive window looking down on the ramp with their cellphones in hand to record the detention, while banging on the glass. “This is f**king evil, you should be ashamed of yourself,” Alicia shouts at one of the ICE agents who had initially detained Chantal. At this point, another Southwest Airlines employee interjects, saying: “If you are on this flight, and you speak to them [the ICE agents] like that, then you will not board this flight.” One of the ICE agents then claims that the Southwest Airlines pilot was aware of the detention taking place. “Southwest was complicit,” Alicia wrote in a caption next to the now viral video on Instagram. “They helped ICE every step of the way.” “Southwest Airlines, explain yourself,” one person commented on the video. “If you are aiding and abetting ICE in violating the constitutional rights of your customers, that's everything I need to know about every flight choice I make for the rest of my life.” Another wote: “Southwest Airlines, I was looking at tickets last night with y'all. Glad I didn't buy, taking my family trip business elsewhere.” And a third wrote: “Need a statement from Southwest Airlines ASAP, or all my upcoming travel is rebooked. Aiding warrantless kidnapping because they are Federal employees is unacceptable!” In a statement, a spokesperson for Southwest told us: “Southwest complies with applicable state and federal law when asked to share information about Customers. The airline has provided guidance to Employees to help ensure appropriate legal documentation is presented by law enforcement agencies prior to interactions in the gate areas.” The statement added: “Southwest is committed to providing a safe travel experience for all Customers and Employees.” The airline also noted that it may deny travel to passengers who are disruptive or display threatening behavior. The incident comes just days after two undercover ICE agents tried (and failed) to detain a 57-year-old man with dual Vietnamese and Australian citizenship at Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport. The agents, one who covered his face with a hood, and the other who covered her face with a surgical mask, were not wearing any visible ID when they took Phu Nguyen to the ground in the check-in area and attempted to handcuff him. The female agent managed to handcuff one of his wrists, but when they noticed other passengers filming what they were doing, they quickly fled the scene , leaving the Phu still handcuffed. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department were called and officers ended up releasing Phu from the handcuffs and allowing him to catch his flight to Los Angeles. On arrival, ICE agents were waiting for Phu to deplane and he was taken into custody. A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement later said officers were 'forced' to abandon the detention attempt because of 'anti-ICE agitators.' There is, however, no evidence that the onlookers had any idea that the two agents were from ICE, given their lack of identification. "To de-escalate the situation and for officer safety, officers did not proceed with the arrest at the Las Vegas Airport and chose to instead arrest him at his flight the following day, departing the Los Angeles International Airport on July 14," a statement from the Department of Homeland Security explained.
Delta Boeing 757 evacuated via slides after smoke reported in cockpit at Atlanta
Delta Air Lines passengers were forced to evacuate a Boeing 757-200 on escape slides at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) following an emergency landing. On August 8, 2026, the Delta Air Lines flight left Atlanta at 07:35, for Orlando International Airport (MCO) but diverted back to ATL shortly after takeoff. In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that smoke was reported in the cockpit of the Boeing 757-200, registered N555NW. Once the aircraft landed back at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, the passengers disembarked via emergency slides onto the taxiway. It is understood that there were 199 passengers and six crew members on the flight. A staff member and a passenger required medical attention. A Delta flight was evacuated Saturday morning at the airline's main hub in Atlanta after the crew reported fumes on board the plane shortly after takeoff. Nearly 200 passengers evacuated via the emergency slides on the runway and boarded a different plane to Orlando. pic.twitter.com/3jcDVuTuE4 — CBS News (@CBSNews) August 8, 2026 In a voice recording with air traffic control a Delta pilot can be heard saying that there is "smoke in the back" and "we need to deplane immediately". According to Flightradar24 , the passenger jet reached around 9,650 feet before reducing altitude and initiating a diversion. "The flight crew followed procedures to return to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after reports of fumes in the flight deck," Delta Air Lines said. "A slide evacuation occurred on a taxiway, and customers are being reaccommodated on a new aircraft. Safety is paramount at Delta, and we apologize to our customers for their experience." The FAA said it is investigating the incident. RELATED Trump pick David Cummins sworn in as eighth TSA Administrator
King Air ambulance crashes in New Mexico amid military GPS jamming during night visual approach
Military exercise taking place when descending aircraft struck mountain ridge during visual approach in darkness. US investigators have yet to determine why a Beechcraft C90 King Air ambulance fatally crashed into high terrain during a night visual approach in New Mexico, at a time when military jamming was taking place in the area. The National Transportation Safety Board stresses that it is still probing the 14 May accident, which left no survivors from two pilots and two nurses on board. But the aircraft had been attempting to descend from 12,000ft towards Sierra Blanca regional airport, near Ruidoso, which lies at an elevation of about 6,800ft. Although the aircraft's crew had initially intended an area navigation approach – which requires satellite-based positioning – to runway 24, they opted to switch to an ILS approach owing to the loss of GPS navigation capability. But neither the area navigation nor the ILS approach procedure was authorised if no local altimeter setting had been received, and NOTAM information stated that Sierra Blanca airport's automated weather system was out of service. The aircraft had been directed to fly northwest in preparation for a vectored approach. While about 27nm northeast of Sierra Blanca airport, however, the crew informed the area controller that they had "a visual on Ruidoso" and could "go visual". This meant turning southwest and descending over the Capitan mountains – which rise to some 10,200ft – in darkness and zero moonlight, just after midnight. Nearly 5min after commencing the descent, the aircraft had reached the mountain ridge and – according to its Spidertracks flight-tracking equipment which provided GPS-generated altitude data – was flying at 9,400ft. The aircraft subsequently began climbing but, about 45s later, it collided with terrain at about 9,950ft. Complicating the inquiry is the fact that military GPS jamming activity was taking place near the White Sands missile range, and the Albuquerque area control centre had issued a NOTAM warning that it could interfere with GPS navigation and ADS-B. This has generated speculation in various media channels that the King Air's GPS equipment might have been providing false information to the crew. But amid these suggestions, the National Transportation Safety Board insisted on 5 August that it has "not yet determined the probable cause or any contributing factors". It points out that it validates and analyses "all available evidence" before reaching conclusions. There is evidence that GPS and ADS-B data from the flight was affected. The crew reported losing GPS capability shortly after departure, and requested headings. While Spidertracks GPS-based data was generated for the whole flight, there was only a partial ADS-B record owing to the reporting frequency substantially reducing for much of it. The Spidertracks data typically indicated altitudes 600ft higher than the ADS-B data. As area centre controllers sought to vector the aircraft they requested that the military jamming exercise cease temporarily. ADS-B reporting frequency returned to normal shortly afterwards. Jamming was permitted to resume when the aircraft's pilots confirmed they would make a visual approach to Sierra Blanca airport, and began their descent. Investigators state that at least three other aircraft in the vicinity reported a loss of GPS around the same time as the King Air. Generation Jets had been operating the 47-year old aircraft (N249CP), working with its partner Trans Aero MedEvac which provided the medical support personnel.
US Removes Fly Baghdad and Two Boeing 737s from Terrorism Sanctions List
The US Treasury Department has lifted sanctions on Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad and two of its Boeing 737s, more than two years after accusing the carrier of transporting fighters and weapons for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and allied militant groups. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) removed Fly Baghdad, also known as Iraq Express, and the two aircraft from its Specially Designated Nationals list on August 5, 2026. A Treasury official said the airline had made major changes to its operations and had addressed the conduct that led to the sanctions. The department did not say exactly what those changes were. Fly Baghdad was sanctioned in January 2024 under US counterterrorism laws. At the time, the Treasury Department accused the airline of supporting the IRGC Quds Force by transporting personnel, weapons and money throughout the Middle East. The Treasury Department said Fly Baghdad flights had carried weapons to Damascus International Airport for delivery to the IRGC-Quds Force and Iran-aligned groups operating in Syria. The department said those shipments included missiles, rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. US officials also accused Kata'ib Hezbollah of using Fly Baghdad flights to move fighters, weapons and cash to Syria and Lebanon. The Treasury Department said the airline helped move hundreds of Iraqi fighters in October 2023, including members of Iran-backed groups, following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Fly Baghdad denied the allegations after the sanctions were imposed and said the US decision was based on incorrect information. The sanctions effectively barred US citizens and companies from doing business with Fly Baghdad and blocked any property or financial interests the airline held within US jurisdiction. The OFAC issued a temporary exemption in 2024 that allowed certain transactions needed for civil aviation safety and for companies to wind down existing agreements with the airline. That included maintenance, insurance, ground services and the repossession of leased aircraft. The two aircraft removed from the sanctions list were Boeing 737s that the Treasury Department had previously identified as blocked property belonging to Fly Baghdad. The aircraft carry Iraqi registrations YI-BAF and YI-BAN. The department said removing the airline from the list does not signal a broader change in US policy toward Iran, the IRGC or other groups designated as terrorist organizations. A Treasury official also said the decision was unrelated to current US negotiations with Iran over the conflict in the Persian Gulf. "FBA has demonstrated major changes to their operations such that their listing is no longer warranted," the official said. "They have addressed sanctionable conduct." The department said sanctions could be imposed again if circumstances change. The US action does not clear Fly Baghdad of separate restrictions elsewhere. The airline remains on the European Union's Air Safety List and is banned from operating within the EU because of what European regulators describe as serious safety deficiencies. Fly Baghdad and Iraqi Airways were among six individual airlines subject to an EU operating ban when the list was updated in June 2026. Fly Baghdad was established in 2014 and operates scheduled passenger services from Iraq to destinations around the Middle East and other parts of the region.
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