Carnival Legend brawl sparked by stepping on passengers shoe as family sue cruise liner

Bombshell allegations emerge about wild brawl on board ‘cruise from hell’ that saw more than a dozen family members booted off luxury ship – as court hears fracas was sparked after one of them stepped on a passenger’s SHOE

• Carnival Legend brawl sparked by family member stepping on passenger’s shoe
• Zakhour family and friends were escorted off cruise liner in February 2018
• Cruise company PLC claims family abusive to staff, bouncer and passengers 

By Aidan Wondracz For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:11 GMT, 22 November 2021 | Updated: 00:42 GMT, 22 November 2021

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A cruise ship brawl that ended with more than a dozen family members booted off the vessel was sparked after one of them stepped on a passenger’s shoe, court documents allege. 

The Zakhour family and some of their friends were escorted off the Carnival Legend after it was forced to stop at port in Eden, New South Wales, on February 16, 2018.

Shocking footage captured a group of passengers engaged in a bloody fist fight before security were forced to intervene and detain the family as the ship docked.

Three members of the Zakhour family are now suing cruise company PLC claiming security violently assaulted them before falsely imprisoning them onboard.

More than a dozen family members were booted off a cruise ship following a brawl that was sparked after one of them stepped on a passenger’s shoe, court documents allege (pictured, Zakhour family and friends being escorted off the cruise liner in 2018)

The Zakhour family and some of their friends were escorted off the Carnival Legend after it was forced to stop at port in Eden, New South Wales, on February 16, 2018

Shocking footage captured a group of passengers engaged in a bloody fist fight before security were forced to intervene and detain the family as the ship docked

Carnival PLC has filed a defence at the County Court drawing up a list of allegations against the family.

They allege members hurled racist abuse at security, lashed out at staff when their supply to booze was cut off, and sparked a brawl with other passengers, Herald Sun reported.

PLC alleges the son of Zaki Zakhour, 52, stepped on a passenger’s shoe two days before the brawl broke out.

Mr Zakhour then became engaged in a heated argument with the passenger before assaulting them the following day, court documents allege.

PLC alleges Mr Zakhour grabbed the passenger by the throat while other family members threatened to kill him.

Mr Zakhour said in his statement of claim that when security intervened he was punched in the head and kicked on the ground.

He alleges the chief of security yelled at him: ‘I’m going to f***ing kill you and your son’.

Police officers with the Zakhour family following the brawl on Carnival Legend in February 2018

Zakhour family members and friends being escorted by police officers onto a bus after the cruise liner was forced to dock

A passenger holds his hoodie over his head as he is escorted off the cruise liner

PLC has defended the actions of the security staff saying Mr Zakhour and his son were handcuffed before they were taken to separate rooms.

Staff had been acting under the orders of the captain and employed ‘a reasonable use of force’ to ensure the safety of its other passengers, PLC claimed.

The cruise line company claims the Zakhour family and their friends were involved in several incidents in while on the cruise ship.

They allegedly took out their anger at staff when their booze privileges were revoked and pushed a bouncer after they were refused entry into a nightclub.

PLC claims members threatened passengers near a pizzeria and choked a security guard and told staff to ‘be ready for a wrestle’.

The matter will go to trial next year. 

Disturbing footage captured the brawl as shocked passengers watched on as it unfolded on the Carnival Legend

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