Mohammad Shibli, a passenger on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Fresno on July 29, alleges a flight attendant slapped him during the flight.
Shibli was traveling with his family when the incident occurred, which he says caused him fear, humiliation and pain.
Driving the news:The flight attendant reportedly refused to serve Shibli and his wife water, using a disrespectful tone during the interaction.
- Shibli’s attorney, Awad Ali, suggested that the refusal to serve may have been influenced by the fact that Shibli’s wife was wearing a shirt bearing the word “Palestine.”
- After another crew member provided water and apologized, the original flight attendant allegedly approached Shibli, whispered a vulgar word in his ear, and then struck him with an open palm.
- Shibli said the slap was painful and embarrassing and expressed feeling helpless in front of his son, humiliated as a husband, and fearful for his and his family’s safety as passengers.
Go deeper: The incident was publicly addressed by Shibli during an Atlanta-area press conference on August 26 that was covered by local media outlets.
- Delta Air Lines responded by suspending the flight attendant involved and launching an immediate internal investigation.
- Shibli and his legal team are demanding $20 million in damages, representing a day’s worth of Delta’s profits, in addition to requiring the airline to implement education and sensitivity training about Palestine for its employees.
Delta responds: “As the safety and security of our customers and employees comes before all else, Delta launched an immediate internal investigation into this incident,” Delta told USA Today. “While Delta does not comment on internal investigations or pending litigation, we are taking this situation very seriously.”
