JetBlue Airways has been accused of anti-Semitism by a Jewish passenger who claims the airline canceled her ticket after she protested a flight attendant holding a “Free Palestine” pin.
The airline reportedly contacted police about 54-year-old Paul Faust just before the plane took off from South Florida to Las Vegas on April 28.
In a video posted to Instagram, Faust claimed she was accosted by uniformed staff at the airport for “causing a disturbance” in response to a flight attendant wearing a pin emblazoned with the Palestine Liberation Organization flag. . It also has a Black Lives Matter badge.
Faust said he was initially silent about the crew, but spoke up after she started serving drinks.
He claimed the flight attendant moved the pro-Palestinian pin to a more prominent location, an action he interpreted as provocative and intentional.
Faust took his complaints to another crew member, saying: ”
The flight attendant reportedly told Faust, “Okay, I’ll talk to her.”
“I don’t want any trouble,” Faust is said to have replied.
“Maybe you’ll talk to her after you get off the plane. Just tell her that maybe it was a little insensitive and that you felt a little uncomfortable.”
Faust returned to his seat and said the plane took off for Las Vegas and landed without incident.
Faust said that after the passengers deplaned, one of the flight attendants pointed out another JetBlue employee wearing a yellow vest.
“Sir, I have something to tell you,” the official is said to have said to Faustus.
Faust said he was told he had caused a disturbance and needed to show identification.
“I’m not causing any trouble. I won’t give you my ID,” Faust reportedly told them.
JetBlue officials then allegedly called police and told them, “I’m standing here with the passenger who caused the disturbance on the plane.”
Faust said she left because “I wasn’t going to sit there while he was making up lies.”
Faust was scheduled to return to South Florida the next day, but her return ticket was canceled.
JetBlue didn’t bother to notify Faust of the cancellation, he claimed.
When Faust called customer service to follow up on the incident, the decision was made because he was “causing confusion on board, not listening to instructions from the flight attendants, and not listening to the supervisor at the gate.” said that it was done. ”
Faust denied the accusations. JetBlue representatives could not be reached for comment.
News of the incident is First reported by DailyMail.com.
Faust was said to have been a Mosaic member of JetBlue. Mosaic is a frequent flyer benefit that airlines offer to their most loyal customers.
Faust posted a video on Instagram telling the story. Several commenters said they would boycott JetBlue in response.
