57 Jewish passengers accuse United Airlines of antisemitism, incompetence in lawsuit

During a United Airlines flight from the US to Israel two years ago, the pilot abruptly turned the plane around, returning to Newark with no apparent explanation, while flight staff allegedly used collectively punishment against Jewish travelers.

By World Israel News Staff

Fifty-seven Israeli and American Jewish passengers have filed a joint lawsuit in a Manhattan federal court against United Airlines, accusing the carrier of antisemitic discrimination after a Newark-to-Tel Aviv flight was abruptly turned around midair, allegedly without valid justification.

According to the suit, the incident occurred on April 22, 2023. The trouble began, plaintiffs say, after a Jewish passenger briefly sat in an unoccupied crew seat while waiting for a lavatory. The seat was reserved for flight attendants.

What followed, according to the suit, was a dramatic and unjustified overreaction by airline staff.

Crew members, the plaintiffs claim, warned that they would divert the plane if the passenger didn’t move, but the warning was dismissed by passengers as an idle threat. Minutes later, the aircraft turned back toward Newark, despite being halfway across the Atlantic.

The man who had sat in the seat while waiting for the airplane’s lavatory was detained after the plane returned to Newark. He was later released.

Another passenger, Jeff Hunt, captured part of the confrontation on social media, describing the man as “calmly walking” through the cabin and explaining his side to fellow travelers.

Meanwhile, passengers endured hours of delay in Newark, with many waiting for hotel vouchers—some of which reportedly never arrived.

The federal lawsuit, filed by attorney Yoram Nachimovsky, accuses United Airlines of “incompetence, racism, and discriminatory treatment of Jewish passengers.”

The plaintiffs claim that the entire group was collectively penalized for one minor infraction and that their Jewish identity played a role in how the situation was handled.

One passenger recounts asking a flight attendant for assistance rebooking his travel. He was wearing a kippah and claims the attendant dismissively told him, “Go ask your own kind.”

Flight attendants “blamed all the rest of the passengers” and behaved with “prejudice” to passengers who were “visibly Jews,” according to the suit.

The lawsuit seeks financial damages as well as mandatory anti-bias training for United Airlines staff.

United Airlines issued a statement to Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, denying any wrongdoing.

“We have reviewed the incident, and the plaintiffs’ claims are meritless. 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.”