The US Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a $4 million fine against Lufthansa on Tuesday, accusing the Germany-based airline of discrimination for barring more than 100 Jewish passengers from boarding flights more than two years ago.
According to a consent order from the DOT, the incident occurred in May 2022 when Lufthansa blocked 128 Jewish passengers from boarding a connecting flight in Germany, following “misbehavior from some passengers” on the original flight, which departed from New York.
The initial flight carried 131 passengers who were all en route to Budapest, Hungary, for an annual commemorative event honoring an Orthodox rabbi, and most of them “were wearing typical clothing typically worn by Orthodox Jewish men,” according to the DOT.
The agency said it received more than 40 complaints from Jewish passengers involved in the incident and that although they had the same goal, most of the passengers did not know each other.
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The DOT said it determined Lufthansa discriminated against the passengers because the airline “treated them all as if they were one group and denied them boarding because of the alleged bad behavior of some.”
The DOT said the $4 million fine was the largest ever levied against an airline for civil rights violations.
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“No one should face discrimination when they travel, and today’s actions send a clear message to the airline industry that we are ready to investigate and take action whenever passengers’ civil rights are violated,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement who announced this. decision.
Lufthansa said in a statement to FOX Business that it has cooperated fully with the DOT review process, and that “We remain focused on the many efforts that have already been initiated including, partnering with the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a highly respected and internationally recognized organization global advocacy organization and thought leader.”
“Through our ongoing collaboration, we have put together the aviation industry’s first training program for our managers and employees to address antisemitism and discrimination,” the statement said, adding, “As the first airline to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) running definition of antisemitism, Lufthansa will continue to encourage thoughtful dialogue with Jewish communities and organizations around the world.”
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The DOT’s consent order stated that the airline said it “regrets and has apologized publicly on numerous occasions for the circumstances surrounding the decision to deny boarding to affected passengers” in the incident, but “denies any suggestion that its employees were involved in any action.” form of discrimination.”
Lufthansa also stated in its response to the DOT that it “does not tolerate any form of discrimination based on religion or ethnicity, including antisemitism.”