United Boots Passengers On Israel Flight For Saying Ultra-Orthodox Will ‘Spread Disease’

We usually see passengers being booted from flights for refusing to wear a mask. It’s unusual to see passengers kicked off for complaining about how other passengers are wearing their masks.

However on Saturday’s United Airlines Newark – Tel Aviv flight that’s exactly what happened.

Prior to boarding two passengers confronted ultra-Orthodox passengers on the flight telling them that they were going to “cause the further spread of coronavirus” by not wearing their masks fully over their noses.

After boarding they insisted that flight attendants re-arrange passenger seating, insisting that all the Orthodox passengers sit together,

[T]hey should “All sit together because [they are] spreading of diseases, and that [they] do not want to be infected by them (the ultra-Orthodox passengers).”

…One eyewitness, Shimi, told Ynet that “I do not know why people should behave like this. The couple were just looking for ultra-Orthodox to humiliate them. Who speaks in this way? What have they done to them? Because they are dressed differently and lead a different lifestyle, is that a reason to talk to them unkindly? They had to be taken off the plane, it was disgusting behavior.”

Other passengers intervened asked flight attendants to remove the complainers over their discriminatory comments. The complaining couple was booted. According to United Airlines, the carrier “will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. When this case was brought to our attention, we dropped off these passengers and they were taken to a destination on a later flight. We appreciate the quick response of our crew who believe in a safe and respectful environment.”

If passengers aren’t wearing their masks properly, it’s appropriate to say something discretely to airline employees who can then speak to the passengers.

When you do say something about masks either not being worn, or not being used to cover nose and mouth, it’s best not to use racial, ethnic, or religious slurs while doing so.

And with only 60 people on board, and the coach cabin mostly empty, it would have been easy for the passengers to reseat themselves (with cabin crew permission). There was no need to insist that other passengers be the ones to move.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Never confront another passenger. Always raise issues directly with a flight attendant. Avoid reference to protected classes such as religion. Try to emphasize safety, safety, safety as much as possible. “The passengers in row X are wearing masks below the nose which is out of protocol and a safety issue, I think you best get them removed from this flight for everyone’s safety.”

  2. This incident reminds of me of another issue of discrimination on another flight to Israel from the States. In this particular one, an ultra-orthodox person was seated next to a women. He immediately complained to the flight attendant; and she immediately moved the woman to another seat. How soon we forget!

  3. At one point I saw media reports that NYC Mayor was accusing ultra orthodox of holding superspreader events, but did not see this corroborated. Of course there are churches of all denominations holding such events sans masks as well as other groups like bikers, etc.

    In any case you are well within your rights to complain about other passengers who are not wearing masks properly throughout the flight. That said you cannot demand that others be moved, but you certainly can ask to be reseated for any safety concerns including harassment, etc.

  4. If their noses are hanging out they are not properly wearing the masks and should have been told on entry to the Cabin!!!

  5. from a medical point of view, a nose that is free of a mask, is not wearing a mask. The people should have been given the option of following the rules or deplaning.

  6. This is a tough one. People on a flight have a right to stay safe from bad acts of others. . And tell someone else directly to conform. It’s nice but not necessary to go through a flight attendant. I have to best protect myself. Quickly. Yes some Orthodox in their communities have grossly violated social distance rules and not wearing masks at super spreader events.it’s documented. It’s not out of bounds to call them out. It’s another step in self protection and staying alive. It’s a long flight to Israel if some people don’t follow rules and endanger me. It’s not like telling a flight attendant a person is talking too loudly. Or not wearing a seat belt. Delays there in complying ok. This is serious stuff. And urgent. Every minute not wearing a mask properly is breathing out air potentially endangering others. I want to live. If I offend somebody I frankly do not care.

  7. With 50% of the population flaking out because their diapers are soiled, it’s only a matter of time before they start catching hands.

  8. It really should be noted that orthodox jewish communities in NY and NJ are notorious for violating covid rules including having maskless indoor gatherings with several thousand people in violation of the laws. They have consistently had and continue to have large COVID outbreaks and even rioted over covid restrictions. They should have explained the situation better but when you have people from these communities that are notorious for violating covid rules and they show up and aren’t even wearing the mask properly (unless its over both the face and nose you aren’t wearing a mask) people should be able to raise an issue and be moved somewhere else on the plane.

  9. @Boraxo There are ample photos and videos in the media showing the large gatherings the mayor talked about. These things happened repeatedly and remain a consistent problem. Like literally thousands of people gathering indoors and maskless.

  10. It’s literally “anti-Semitic” to criticize people for not wearing their face masks. Talk about who has the ethnic privilege around here. If this were a White couple refusing to put on their masks, different story.

  11. While the thought, intent and concerns are all correct, the implementation is incorrect. They should have first alerted the crew for help before becoming the vigilante mask monitor.

Comments are closed.