Overview
- The incident reportedly took place during a team dinner in November 2024 when Eng allegedly pulled a direct report’s hair as they were saying goodbye.
- The employee told colleagues the gesture was unwelcome and raised the matter with MBTA human resources and legal but never filed a formal complaint.
- Eng has publicly apologized, gave an on-camera interview saying he owns the mistake, and said he has reflected on his actions.
- The MBTA called the episode an “insensitive interaction,” denied claims of harassment or retaliation, and sources say the employee is negotiating to leave the agency.
- The episode draws attention to leadership accountability for Eng, who serves as both MBTA general manager and interim state transportation secretary, and highlights limits of informal HR handling and the role of local reporting in forcing public oversight.