Arabic-speaking passenger kicked off plane in 2016 sues Southwest Airlines, alleging racial bias

[TexasTowelie]

A man who was removed from a 2016 Southwest Airlines flight after another passenger complained he made “potentially threatening” comments in Arabic filed a federal racial-discrimination lawsuit against the carrier Tuesday.

Khairuldeen Makhzoomi — then a student at the University of California, Berkeley — was sitting on an April 6, 2016, flight from Los Angeles to Oakland, talking to his uncle by cellphone before the plane departed.

“Shortly after taking his seat, Mr. Makhzoomi was approached by a Southwest Airlines official and local law enforcement officers, removed from the plane, interrogated, searched, publicly humiliated and denied further travel on the airline,” the lawsuit alleges.

At the time of the incident, Southwest said the passenger who reported Makhzoomi to the flight crew also spoke Arabic and raised concerns because of the contents of Makhzoomi’s conversation, not the language he spoke.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/southwest-airlines/2018/02/13/arabic-speaking-passenger-kicked-plane-2016-sues-southwest-airlines-racial-bias

[RainCaster]

1. I remember this- it was BS on the part of SWA

There was a lot of backlash going around in different middle eastern communities my employees/friends are part of. They were very offended by how their host country had treated this man.

[marble falls]

2. From the article...

At the time of the incident, Southwest said the passenger who reported Makhzoomi to the flight crew also spoke Arabic and raised concerns because of the contents of Makhzoomi’s conversation, not the language he spoke.

[Journeyman]

3. Southwest should trot out this "concerned passenger" so his proficiency in Arabic can be ascertained

What "terrorist" would sit down in a plane and begin talking on his phone about his intent?