Mon, Nov 30, 2015
Other Passengers Said They Were Afraid To Fly With The Naturalized American Citizens
Two men who had immigrated to the United States from Palestine 15 years ago and have become American citizens were barred from boarding a Southwest flight in Chicago to return to Philadelphia where they live recently because another passenger said he was afraid to fly on the same plane as the pair.
That's when Maher Khalil and Anas Ayyad called 911.
Television Station WMAQ reports that Khalil told the gate agent "if that person doesn't feel safe, let them take the bus."
Khalil, 29, owns Pizza Point in Feltonville, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia and the place that gave him his first job when he immigrated from Palestine. He and his friend Ayyad, 28, had traveled to Chicago to visit family, and had met back at the airport to fly home. They were told, apologetically, by the gate agent that another passenger had overheard them speaking Arabic, and was afraid to fly with them. Khalil said that's when he called the police.
After being questioned by airport security and police at Midway Airport, the two were allowed to board their flight, which was delayed by the situation. The airline released a statement saying that there had been a "brief disagreement" with two customers.
It wasn't the end of the suspicion, however. Khalil said some passengers were supportive, but others made the flight back to Philly uncomfortable As they walked down the aisle of the airplane carrying a small white box, some passengers demanded that it be opened.
Khalil said shared the baklava he had brought on board with the suspicious passengers.
More News
With Testing Soon Complete, Launch Preparations Begin in Earnest Sierra Space's Dream Chaser has been put through the wringer at NASA's Glenn Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio, but w>[...]
Takeoff Roll The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act>[...]
“We’re proud of the hard work that went into receiving this validation, and it will be a welcome relief to our customers in the European Union. We couldn’t be mor>[...]
"Aircraft Spruce is pleased to announce the acquisition of the parts distribution operations of Wag-Aero. Wag-Aero was founded in the 1960’s by Dick and Bobbie Wagner in the >[...]
IDENT Feature The special feature in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) equipment. It is used to immediately distinguish one displayed beacon target from other be>[...]