By COLlive reporter
A disturbing incident has been shared by a Jewish passenger on a Jet Blue flight, who was accused of ‘causing a disturbance’ after he objected to a flight attendant’s Palestine flag pin.
Paul Faust, 54, shared on video that on a flight to Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, he felt uncomfortable by the pin worn by the flight attendant, but he opted to remain quiet about it. He said that when the crew member put on an apron for serving drinks and moved the Palestine pin on top so it still showed, he took it as a deliberate provocation, especially since she was wearing several other pins, including a Black Lives Matter pin, which she did not move over her apron, he said.
The Parkland, Florida-based telecoms entrepreneur said that he quietly made a complaint about the pin to a supervisor on the plane.
“I said: ‘I don’t want there to be an issue. Maybe speak with her after we leave the plane. Just talk about how it was maybe a little insensitive, it made me feel a little uncomfortable,'” he relates.
But when the plane landed, he said, a uniformed official approached him and demanded to see his ID, claiming he caused a disturbance on the plane. The official then called the police. Faust left quickly, but found out later that the airline had canceled his return flight.
When he called customer service, he said he was shocked by what they told him.
“They read me the notes. It said ‘Mr. Faust caused a disturbance on the flight, did not listen to flight crew instructions’ – not true, there was no instruction I was given – ‘didn’t listen to the supervisor at the gate… And Mr. Faust said everyone should go to Gaza so they can be killed.’
“That was not true at all,” he said.
Faust, who is Jewish, is accusing the airline of ‘blatant antisemitism’ over the incident.
A JetBlue spokesperson said they are investigating what happened.
“I’ve been a Mosaic member for 10 years, a loyal flier,” Faust said referring to JetBlue’s loyalty program.
“This is what’s going on now. It’s one thing to happen on college campuses with kids who don’t know what they’re doing. This is now a corporation that, right or wrong, allows an employee to wear that pin, but then allows them to treat a customer that way.
“Not a good look JetBlue,” he said.
VIDEO
he should sue them
Let us please not erroneously refer to that flag as if it is of a country. There is not such a country and should not be. It is the “Palestinian” flag or the PLO flag. To refer to it as though it is the flag of a nation creates a mental impression that over time could contribute to making it a reality, heaven forfend.
Take it all the way to the top
This is extremely toxic, No Excuses
First the individuals names involved
must be released next immediately fired and held personally accountable, then Jet Blue must take immediate action to rectify/ acknowledge this despicable episode make the consequences public, and a solid compensation.
Use all resources available
I’m sure jet blue executives are taking notes from your commands and demands
if they are smart
There are laws against making a false complaint to the police. That would include falsely accusing someone of creating a disturbance on a flight.
but unless there’s a recording of the exchanges, who’s to say what really happened, what was said….
Pictures reflect clear intentions
There were actually 8 other passengers that saw what happened and told the same story.
El Al should maybe reconsider their code share relationship with Jet Blue
Sue the airline!!!!!
I would take this to social media – which I will myself- and tell people to stop flying Jet Blue until they get their act together.
Regardless of the statement, it’s ridiculously inappropriate for an employee to display political and/or social messages while at work (in uniform!) representing the company.
It’s as if JetBlue took my advice . . .
File a lawsuit the only way they will learn
Although they are in the wrong. you clearly said that you were speaking most likely within hearing distance of a flight attendant making comments how certain groups would all be killed in Gaza. It’s important to not only complain and hold other accountably, but to take your own accountability and watch your words carefully. At a time when jews are being judged and put under the microscope of hate, it’s even more important to watch what you say and keep these types of thoughts within and not share it out loud.
I disagree. We are not second class citizens, at least not yet. However, if we want to be, then not standing up for ourselves is a good way to get there.
He was having a discussion QUIETLY for which 8 other witnesses are forward and backed his take on what happened. Telling him he shouldn’t be free to have a quiet discussion with another passenger that did NOT include wishing death on people is telling a class of citizens that they can only speak when given permission. Seriously wrong on every level.
They will listen when revenues drop.
It might be very inconvenient but it will be effective.
It the only thing they will listen to
Since the incident (a week ago Sunday), Jet Blue has updated their policy that employees are not allowed to wear anything to show their political opinions.
Has there been any response from Jet Blue? Have you reached out to them?
Totally wrong and unacceptable! Jet Blue
Owes you a big apology! That employee should be terminated! No ifs or buts about! Shameful !!!!!!
The employee should be terminated immediately! Totally unacceptable!
So if the flight attendant had on an Israeli flag pin. Would he have complained?
At least not among decent people. Anyone who objects to an Israeli flag is an antisemite and has no place in polite society.
Palestinian flags are not anti-Israel, and this is how far people’s brains stretch to avoid honoring the two-state solution set forth from the beginning. If lies are being told about this passenger, that is a bad thing. This seems hard to corroborate with one person’s word.
Two.state.solution will be bad for Israel
The “Palestinian” cause consists of nothing but a determination to kill or expel all the Jews and not allow them to have a state. They were the Nazis’ allies in WW2, and when their allies were defeated they continued the mission. The entire “Palestinian” identity was invented solely for this purpose. The idea of a “two-state solution” has always been a chimera, because the Arabs cannot accept it. But even if they would accept it, it would be wrong, because it’s not their land. Giving them a state would be paying danegeld, and we know how that ends. Peace that… Read more »
Anyone who supports a “two-state solution” has no business being on this site. It is a fundamental contradiction to Chabad principles. The Rebbe denounced such a notion dozens of times, in the strongest terms, and his word is law. You do not contradict him.
YOUR READING COMPREHENSION REQUIRES A GRAIN OF SALT. KINDLY REREAD THE REPORT. THE PASSENGER, MR.FAUST, DID NOT SAY GAZANS WILL BE KILLED. THAT IS JUST WHAT THE LYING FLIGHT ATTENDANT REPORTED HE SAID. THE SKEWED REPORT WAS A BLATANT LIE THAT THE PASSENGER VEHEMENTLY DENIED. OTHER PASSENGERS ON THE PLANE CORROBORATED MR. FAUST’S VERSION OF THE STORY. IN GENERAL, HERE’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON IN LIFE: THERE’S NO NEED TO BE AN APOLOGIST FOR YOUR ENEMIES. BEING EXCESSIVELY “OPEN-MINDED” OFTEN CAUSES YOUR BRAIN TO FALL OUT.