The United States has fined Lufthansa, a German airline, $4 million for its treatment of a group of Orthodox Jewish passengers who were denied boarding a flight in 2022. The U.S. Transportation Department announced on Tuesday that this is the largest fine issued by the agency against an airline for civil rights violations. However, Lufthansa was given credit for $2 million for compensating the passengers, which reduced the fine by half.
Most of the 128 passengers who were denied boarding were Orthodox Jewish men wearing distinctive garb. They were not traveling together or acquainted with each other, but Lufthansa treated them as a group and denied boarding to all due to alleged misbehavior by a few passengers. These passengers were on their way from New York to Budapest to attend a memorial event honoring an Orthodox rabbi.
During the flight, some passengers were informed by flight attendants about the requirement to wear face masks and avoid congregating in aisles or near emergency exits. Lufthansa crew members did not identify any specific passengers who disobeyed these instructions, citing the high number of violations and seat changes during the flight.
The captain reported misbehavior among the passengers to Lufthansa security, leading to the denial of boarding for the connecting flight. Lufthansa stated that the events were not a result of discrimination and denied any bias from its employees. However, the airline acknowledged errors in company procedures and communications.
In 2022, Lufthansa reached a settlement with most of the affected passengers. The airline has faced criticism for its handling of the situation and the U.S. Transportation Department’s decision to issue a significant fine. This incident highlights the importance of non-discriminatory practices and clear communication in the airline industry to ensure the well-being and rights of all passengers are respected.
