Flight TURNED AROUND – Lawsuit Filed!

Jewish passengers file discrimination lawsuit against United Airlines after a flight to Tel Aviv was turned around, allegedly due to a passenger briefly sitting in a crew seat.

At a Glance

• Nearly 60 Jewish passengers have filed a lawsuit claiming discrimination after a United Airlines flight from Newark to Tel Aviv was unexpectedly returned to Newark.
• The incident allegedly occurred when one passenger briefly sat in a flight attendant’s seat while waiting for the restroom.
• Passengers claim they received hostile treatment upon return to Newark, with one allegedly told to “Go ask your own kind” when seeking assistance.
• United Airlines denies the allegations, stating the flight returned due to a “safety and security risk posed by one passenger.”
• The group was traveling to Israel to celebrate Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut holidays.

Allegations of Discrimination

A lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court alleges that United Airlines discriminated against a group of nearly 60 Jewish passengers when their Newark to Tel Aviv flight was unexpectedly turned around in April 2023. According to court documents, the incident began when a Jewish passenger temporarily sat in a flight attendant’s seat while waiting for the bathroom. Rather than addressing the individual passenger, the plaintiffs claim the entire group of Jewish travelers was collectively blamed and subjected to discriminatory treatment by the flight crew.

The passengers were en route to Israel to participate in significant national holidays – Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day). The lawsuit contends that the flight crew’s decision to return the aircraft to Newark lacked valid justification and instead reflected prejudice against the Jewish passengers. Attorney Yoram Nachimovsky, representing the plaintiffs, is pursuing unspecified damages and remedial action from the airline.

Passenger Accounts and Alleged Mistreatment

The situation allegedly worsened once the plane returned to Newark. Passengers claim they were left without assistance in securing new travel arrangements. One particularly troubling allegation involves a flight attendant who reportedly told a Jewish passenger seeking help to “Go ask your own kind.” This statement, if proven true, would represent a clear example of discriminatory behavior that the lawsuit seeks to address through both financial compensation and mandatory sensitivity training for United Airlines staff.

“We want to see sensitivity training,” said attorney Yoram Nachimovsky, highlighting that the lawsuit aims to change airline practices beyond just monetary compensation.

United Airlines Responds

United Airlines has firmly denied all allegations of discrimination, characterizing the claims as “meritless” and defending their crew’s actions as appropriate and safety-focused. The airline maintains that the decision to return the aircraft to Newark was based solely on legitimate safety concerns posed by one individual passenger’s behavior, not by any bias against Jewish travelers or any particular group. Their statement emphasizes that safety protocols were followed correctly throughout the incident.

The airline further defended its actions by providing additional context: “One passenger who was a safety and security risk caused the flight to return to Newark. Our crew put safety first and exhibited professionalism in managing this matter, and we will vigorously defend against these false allegations.” This response indicates United is prepared to contest the lawsuit’s claims through legal proceedings rather than seeking an early settlement.

Broader Context of Air Travel Incidents

This case occurs amid increasing scrutiny of how airlines handle passenger conflicts and potential discrimination. While unrelated to this specific incident, recent months have seen several high-profile cases of disruptive passenger behavior across various airlines. One such case involved a passenger named Luis A. Vaquero on a Miami to Newark flight who reportedly made antisemitic comments toward Jewish passengers alongside threatening a disabled minor and flight crew, though this occurred on a different flight and airline than the one involved in the lawsuit.

The United Airlines case raises important questions about airline protocols when dealing with passenger issues and whether certain groups may face disproportionate consequences for individual actions. As the legal process unfolds, it will ultimately determine whether the airline’s actions constituted discrimination or were justified security measures in a challenging situation requiring quick decision-making by flight personnel.