NEW YORK (VINnews) — An orthodox Jewish woman was thrown off a Delta flight last Wednesday for allegedly not complying with mask regulations during her prayers. However the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed to YWN that she was compliant at all times and maintains that she was the target of anti-Semitism.
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The woman related that “I was on Delta Flight 5610 from Chicago O’Hare to JFK Airport on Wednesday. I had my siddur open and was praying. The flight attendant, Erica Green, angrily pushed my siddur down and told me to pull up my mask to comply with guidelines. My mask was up but she walked away without allowing me to show her. I brushed it off assuming she didn’t see me correctly.
“She came back with another flight attendant and they both got extremely angry at me. I was scared because I was doing nothing wrong. They knocked my siddur and told me I wasn’t being compliant, even though the other passengers could see I was fully compliant, and just praying. They said if I wasn’t going to be compliant, to tell them now. Some orthodox men tried to help but the flight attendant did not allow them to speak.
“When she finally stopped yelling at me, I said ‘thank you for telling me, what’s your name?’
“She swung around and a minute later the pilot announced we were turning the plane around to drop off a passenger who was non compliant. A woman named Kim Ford came on to the plane and told me that I was being non compliant and that if I did not get off the plane and continued speaking I would have a lifetime ban from flying Delta and security would drag take me off the plane. She said other passengers do not feel safe and the pilot did not feel comfortable having me on board.
“I was calm but scared, so I asked to speak with the pilot. She said that I can speak with them when I get off the plane. Two pilots met me and I tried to explain that I was fully compliant and have witnesses. The flight attendant Erica Green cut me off and did not allow me to speak. I was crying and upset and the pilots seemed confused. Kim Ford said that if I calm down and don’t speak she would rebook me to NY on a different flight, but if I “keep this up” I would have a lifetime ban from Delta and be escorted out of the terminal.
“As Kim took me back up the plane ramp, the flight attendant Erica Green said ‘you and prayer book can get off’. ”
Delta did not yet respond to the allegations.
What does the aircraft cabin video camera show?
My wife had a near similar experience on United flight from Orlando to NJ. It was ON at all times, yet they kept coming back yelling at her to be compliant even while she was wearing it perfectly. Luckily they were flying and the plane didn’t turn around..
There must be photo or video evidence – everyone has a cellphone with camera in their hands all day these days.
If true, this is becoming a monthly occurrence.
Fake news. Another website has audio of her saying her mask fell on the floor and wanted a new one. So she admits that for at least some period of time, she was NOT wearing a mask. I can’t say whether that justified what they did, but she was clearly NOT fully compliant, by her own admission as the article claims.
People need to calm down when travelling. I travel a lot. It always amazes me how stressed out people are. The rudeness shown to the staff is shocking. I am convinced these are nice people who are just pushed slightly over the edge by having to fly.
Have any witnesses come to her support after the fact? Has she filed charges?
it’s all fake news. i’ve personally flown on delta, davened, sometimes at my seat, sometimes in the back with a minyan – WITH NO PROBLEM
FAKE NEWS
I dont know about this situation, however I’ve witnessed many occurrences where frum people were completely out of line, and yet had the Chutzpah to cry “anti semitism, Nazi”etc. The problem is that when its really anti semitism people become skeptical like the boy who cried wolf. I wonder if this happened in the holocaust.
MAGA has infected the country wirh everyday, cssual antisemitism. The Flight Attendant is entitled to her opinion.