How would you feel if you were searched by the TSA, then “randomly” searched and questioned again prior to boarding, then required by the airline gate agent to show your identification while other passengers were not, then pulled off the airplane because those around you allegedly felt nervous, then searched and cleared by the TSA again, then still been denied boarding because the captain was “uncomfortable” transporting you? All because of the way you looked.
I would be suing as well.
Two Islamic religious leaders from Tennessee filed a lawsuit against two airlines Monday, claiming they were discriminated against and not allowed to fly on a plane in May because of the way they looked…
In the suit, the two said they arrived at the Memphis, Tennesseee, International Airport on May 6, wearing traditional Muslim attire, including religious garb and headgear. The two were headed from Memphis to Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend a conference on anti-Muslim bigotry…
Fast-forward to the part where the aircraft returns to the gate, the pilot orders the two men off the plane, and the TSA performs a “comprehensive patdown” (again) before “clearing” the passengers to travel:
…the suit claims the pilot would not allow them on the plane and then refused to give a reason. A Delta supervisor went on the plane to explain to the pilot he could not exclude the men without “a rational basis,” the suit said. When the supervisor returned, he was “irate,” the suit said, and told them men, “He is wrong,” referring to the pilot.
A higher-ranking Delta manager was requested, the suit said. But while the men waited for the manager to arrive, the plane left the gate.
According to the complaint, the airline manager ordered the plane back to the terminal, then boarded the plane to speak with the pilot. The manager returned, “visibly distraught,” a half-hour later, according to the suit.
The manager told the men that the pilot, “despite acknowledging that both plaintiffs were cleared to board, was personally objecting to the plaintiffs being on his flight. The pilot indicated that he believed the mere presence and perception of the plaintiffs on his plane would make other passengers feel uncomfortable.”
So let’s get this straight: you have an Atlantic-Southeast pilot (a Delta regional subsidiary), probably a teenager or in his 20s, unilaterally deciding that he will not transport two passengers because of what essentially boils down to their religious beliefs. Ultimately, a captain has the final say on whether a flight operates or not, but religious bigotry running afoul of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should not be part of the calculus.
There is an arguable bright spot in this story:
The Delta manager made an announcement in the cabin of the plane stating if any passengers felt apprehensive about either of the men then they could get on another plane and receive a voucher, the lawsuit stated. “Except for the pilot, however, no one else on that plane indicated that they were uncomfortable with either plaintiff being on the flight,” the complaint said.
But an unhappy ending:
In the end, the plane left without Rahman and Zaghloul.
What happened? The Delta manager shows some courage (though I would not have dangled a voucher in front of bigoted passengers), which should be commended, but the flight still goes out without the two men.
I find it sad that none of the passengers or other flight crew onboard stood up for the two men or refused to fly when the two men were kicked off the aircraft. I’d like to think I would have stepped off the aircraft and refused to fly had I been on the flight…
Folks, this is pure bigotry and must be condemned. The type of toxic thinking displayed by the Atlantic-Southeast pilot is antithetical to the premise of the American experiment and a harrowing reminder that ignorance persists. The pilot should be fired immediately.
Although I understand the caution behind the uninspired press statement released by Delta and Atlantic Southeast, their statement seemingly defends the pilot. I see no evidence to suggest that the pilot acted in the best interest of passenger safety and security.
Atlantic Southeast and Delta oppose discrimination in any form from any source and our employees act at all times in the best interest of passenger safety and security. We cannot comment further on pending litigation.
Despite the best efforts of Delta ground staff at Memphis, Delta and Atlantic Southeast deserve to be sued for what happened, primarily to ensure that a similar incident does not occur again. I expect a generous settlement.
The behavior of the pilot is absolutely appalling and should be condemned. Delta should launch its own internal investigation and reprimand the pilot appropriately to bring substance to its claim that Dela and its partners “oppose discrimination in any form from any source” and to make clear that such behavior would not be tolerated.
I agree with this post all the way. Lets see what happens to the pilot himself if he were to go to another country and not fit in..
The only color the lawyers will see in this case is GREEN. This time I’m glad this is the case. These men deserved to be treated much better. Bigotry = Ignorance.
Regarding Matthews headline “Bigoted Delta Pilot throws Muslims off flight”, did Matthew read his own article? The pilot was an ASA Pilot, he is not trained, paid nor employed by Delta. ASA is owned by Express jet. The company has a contract to fly routes on behalf of Delta, and other airlines. Why would Matthew accuse a Delta pilot of being a bigot? Poorly written article. In grade school I was taught to write using facts.
@Anon: You ask if I read my article, but apparently you never did. For if you had, you would have clearly seen this:
Yet my title stands–whether you like it or not, these contract flights fly with Delta livery, Delta uniforms, Delta snacks/drinks, and Delta magazines.
While they may not technically be “Delta”, they are Delta.
In grade school, I was taught to think before I spoke. What a shame that you were sick that day.
I do not think a jury in Tennesee is going to find in favor of the Muslims and also they will have a hard time finding an attorney who will stay with the case to trial if Delta does not cough up a small settlement.
Thanks for your blog on this incident. It is a shame that these type of bigots work for a customer service type oriented business. They should go back to under the hole where they came out from. Couple of quotes:
“A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer” – Robert Frost
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing:- Edmund Burke. “
Sorry, but I have to disagree with you. When I travel to places where Americans are suspect or discriminated against, I don’t wear a flag on my sleeve and sing Yankee Doodle. I’ve seen Americans pretend to be Canadian many times. You don’t need to stir up a ruckus. The men on this flight could easily have dressed and comported themselves in a way that kept others calm. Also, you wrote that “ignorance persists” in the pilot. Not true. Prior to 9/11, I’m sure this pilot would have let any Muslim travel on his plane. The murders that day, and the attempts by the shoe bomber and the underwear bomber, all Muslims, to achieve Muslim religious goals, is what made him uncomfortable. It was what he knew, not what he didn’t.
@lotsofmiles: I don’t think the men were trying to stir up ruckus by wearing their religious garb, nor should they feel the need to dress “American” because they are traveling internally in the United States. Would you the say the same thing for an Orthodox Christian or Hasidic Jew wearing their standard clothes?
Yes, 9/11 was perpetrated by those who killed in the name of Islam, but are you really going to argue that all Islams are suspect because of the actions of a few? Were these men not screened multiple times by the TSA?
I have been searched on flights, “at random”, even though I knew it was NOT random. And why? Because I was traveling without an ID other than a credit card that had my picture on it. I had brilliantly misplaced my driver’s license because I was pregnant, and too ill to drive by myself, anyway. And, because I was sick, I did not look pregnant: I looked like a skinny woman clumsily smuggling something under my shirt. At one point, I actually pulled out my belly to show them that, yes, indeed, I was pregnant. And I stupidly did it without warning anyone, and I swear the poor woman must have jumped half a foot – she probably thought I was detonating something (Sorry, unknown flight worker – I apologize!). IOW, I was searched because I looked suspicious, and only when I had proven myself to be exactly what I said – and by means with which a Muslim woman would have undoubtedly had a fit – was anyone satisfied that I wasn’t going to kill everyone on board. & my only problem with that situation was my own stupidity. If Muslims are upset at the extra scrutiny, then they can blame the Muslims who are causing the trouble.