I'm not sure how this could happen in the first place. The moment there's motion under the sensor, the tap opens up. It's not like you can put a purse under it without seeing water pouring out?!

Are you sure it happened like it was described? there's definitely more to it.

I also second the surprise about placing a purse in the basin, one needs to be completly out of their mind to say put any belonging there, passengers brush their teeth and spit in it, wash their hands (hopefully) after having used the loo. I find it crazy for anyone to consider it as a working space.

And if we go about assuming that one would have placed napkins at the bottom of it, that would have activated the tap....

Sorry but I find this rather cringe-worthy story, the whole thing, a bit hard to believe.