Delta Airlines faced strong backlash after its social media accounts said it would be “horrifying” if a flight attendant was wearing a Palestinian flag pin, forcing the flight attendant to kneel down and apologize.
On Wednesday, user X posted two photos of a Delta flight attendant wearing a Palestinian flag pin during a flight, but the pin was incorrectly described as a “Hamas badge,” prompting a rebuttal from the airline.
“I know how you feel as I have personally been terrified,” the airline wrote. post“Our employees reflect our culture and we do not take lightly that our policies are not being followed.”
Delta, which boasts more than 1.6 million followers on the platform, removed the post the following day and demoted the employee.
“On Wednesday, we removed the response that did not align with our values,” the airline said in a statement on X. “We strive for an inclusive and respectful environment for everyone in our communities and on board our aircraft. The employee responsible will no longer support Delta’s social channels. We apologize for this hurtful post.”
A Delta spokesman said assistance was being offered to the two staff members. According to The Hill.
Later the same day, the airline announced that starting July 15, it would impose a complete ban on staff wearing any flag badges except the American flag.
The Washington Post has contacted Delta for further comment.
The original tweet was a response to a post that featured two photos of Delta Airlines staff wearing Palestinian flag lapel badges.
User X described the pin as a “Hamas badge” before referencing the 9/11 terror attacks.
“Since 2001, we have been removing our shoes at all airports due to terrorist attacks on US soil,” the tweet read. “Imagine getting on a Delta flight and seeing an officer in the air with a Hamas badge. What would you do?”
The post caught the attention of stakeholders, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
“Whether this racist post on Delta’s X account was approved or unauthorized, Delta must apologize and take steps to educate its employees about this type of dangerous anti-Palestinian racism,” the group said. I wrote to X.
“Bias against Palestinian-Americans is completely out of control in the workplace and in schools, and it must stop.”
In May, JetBlue Airways banned employees from wearing flag badges after a Jewish passenger accused the airline of “blatant anti-Semitism” after a flight was canceled.
The passenger had his trip to Las Vegas cancelled after he objected to a flight attendant wearing a “Liberation of Palestine” pin.
