NPR Online News

Lufthansa agrees to a record $4 million fine for its treatment of Jewish passengers

Lufthansa fined record $4 million for discriminating against Jewish passengers

Forbes

U.S. Fines Lufthansa Record $4 Million For Allegedly Discriminating Against Jewish Passengers

Lufthansa fined $4 million for blocking 128 Jewish passengers from boarding flight

Associated Press

US fines Lufthansa $4 million for treatment of Orthodox Jewish passengers on a 2022 flight

Lufthansa fined for violating 128 Jewish passengers’ civil rights

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined Lufthansa $4M for allegedly discriminating against Jewish passengers in May 2022. This marks the largest civil rights penalty ever issued against an airline.

It's alleged that Germany's flagship airline denied 128 Orthodox Jewish passengers boarding on a connecting flight from Frankfurt to Budapest, despite many not knowing each other or traveling together.

Lufthansa staff reportedly treated the Jewish passengers as a single group and prevented them from boarding due to the alleged misbehavior of a few individuals on the initial flight from New York.

New York Times

Video evidence showed Lufthansa staff telling passengers that "everyone has to pay" for the mistakes of a few, wherein "everyone" was reportedly defined as "Jewish coming from JFK."

Jerusalem Post

The DOT said it received over 40 discrimination complaints from Jewish passengers following the incident. Following an investigation, it concluded that Lufthansa had discriminated against the passengers based on religion.

Lufthansa has denied discrimination but has taken steps to address the issue, including adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism and partnering with the American Jewish Committee to create training programs.

NPR Online News #1

NBC #1

Forbes #1

CBS #1

Associated Press #1

CNN #1

The incident involved 128 Orthodox Jewish passengers being denied boarding on a connecting flight from Frankfurt to Budapest, despite many not knowing each other or traveling together.

Associated Press #1885

NPR Online News #5071

Lufthansa staff reportedly treated the Jewish passengers as a single group and prevented them from boarding due to alleged misbehavior of a few individuals on the initial flight from New York.

NBC #2637

CBS #2188

Video evidence showed Lufthansa staff stating that "everyone has to pay" for the mistakes of a few, defining "everyone" as "Jewish coming from JFK".

The DOT received over 40 discrimination complaints from Jewish passengers following the incident, prompting an investigation by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection.

Lufthansa has denied discrimination but has taken steps to address the issue, including adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism and partnering with the American Jewish Committee to create training programs.

The incident resulted from a series of miscommunications and misjudgments, not intentional discrimination. Lufthansa has fully cooperated with the DOT review process and taken proactive measures to improve its practices. The airline remains committed to being an ambassador of goodwill, tolerance, diversity, and acceptance.

CNN #2238

Lufthansa Fined $4M for Alleged Jewish Passenger Discrimination

Air travel

Germany

Discrimination

Religion

The DOT's action sends a clear message that discrimination in air travel won't be tolerated. Lufthansa's treatment of Jewish passengers based on their appearance was a blatant violation of civil rights. The airline's subsequent efforts to address antisemitism and discrimination are necessary steps to prevent future incidents.

Al Jazeera

Lufthansa pays record $4m fine for barring Jewish passengers from flight

There's a 50% chance that at least 119K US Jews will move to Israel by 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Lufthansa Fined $4M for Alleged Jewish Passenger Discrimination

Lufthansa Fined $4M for Alleged Jewish Passenger Discrimination

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Lufthansa Fined $4M for Alleged Jewish Passenger Discrimination

Lufthansa Fined $4M for Alleged Jewish Passenger Discrimination

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters