The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation over an alleged incident on an American Airlines’ flight from Charlotte to Detroit on December 6, 2015.
According to the complaint, passenger Mohamed Ahmed Radwan was singled out by a FA onboard, who stated from aircraft’s PA system, “Mohamed Ahmed, Seat 25-A: I will be watching you!”
One minute later, the same FA again stated, “Mohamed Ahmed, that is a very long name, seat 25-A, ‘I will be watching you.'” Radwan complained and the FA accused him of being “too sensitive”. He then complained to other FAs onboard who responded by removing him from the flight because the first FA was “uncomfortable” with him onboard. Radwan further maintains that was forced to buy a much more expensive ticket as a result of his removal.
But AA is pushing back. Dismissing the charge, AA released the following statement:
American was contacted by CAIR earlier this year. We thoroughly reviewed these allegations and concluded that no discrimination occurred…We serve customers of all backgrounds and faiths and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
While anti-Islamic bigotry is not something that can be dismissed, I am suspicious that this particular incident actually occurred. First, I find it very unlikely that Radwan would have to purchase a much more expensive ticket — usually in circumstances like this, the airline will find the passenger another way his destination (as United did for me after the photo incident).
Second, AA was quick to respond on the record that it had investigated the matter and determined that no discrimination occurred. The story, if true, is discrimination at its basest form. With a plane full of witnesses, I find it very unlikely that AA would flat out deny something that actually occrued.
I figure something did happen — perhaps a rude exchange — but it was probably greatly embellished upon. Who knows — the sad thing is that the story is very plausible.
Anytime CAIR is involved, I am immediately suspicious that we aren’t being fed the whole story. They are far from the most trustworthy of organizations. FWIW, this guy’s from Dallas, and they ran a more detailed version of the story in the DMN. The story says AA offered to book him on the next flight, but he refused because he felt insulted, and voluntarily bought a walk-up fare from Delta to complete his trip. I suspect you’re probably in the general ballpark of what happened – some rudeness was exchanged between the two, and either the passenger wouldn’t let it go and got booted for making a scene, or we have a case of an FA with an itchy trigger finger that overreacted, or (more likely) some combination of the two.
If the agent did call him out by name on the PA, that is indeed inflammatory. In an age where a GOP candidate can win a presidential primary on a platform advocating to track all Americans of his faith and ban the entrance of more, Mr. Radwan has every reason to believe he is being prejudged by his name every day.
To insinuate that this incident is a fabrication without any evidence is, at best, irresponsible and a disservice to anyone who flies.
This is not the first time that American Airlines has been charged with discrimination against passengers simply for being Muslim, “looking Muslim” in the case of the Sikh passengers removed, or “flying while brown.”
Unless you have had the experience of being discriminated against for your name or skin color, or unless you have something more to offer — vs. your speculation and conjecture — the story is not only plausible, it is likely.
I’m certain it’s a “coincidence” that the FA announced multiple times to the entire flight that she will be watching Mr Radwan. This signals to everyone on board that they should be watching him, too. This type of action is intended to create a hostile environment for the passenger, and most passengers who silently tolerate it exactly because of these consequences.
I fly 100,000+ miles a year.
I never see Matthew, John, or James “randomly selected” for extra screening, or being spoken to in a disrespectful manner (or worse) by FAs. But I have seen plenty of Muslim men and women receiving that treatment, mostly in US airports and on US carriers. These aren’t isolated incidents. This happens more often than most people think.
And we all know how effective organizations like airlines are at investigating themselves when the outcomes could hurt their bottom line.
Probably because Muslims are the ones most prone to blow themselves up, Made In America.