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.

FMI: www.soutwest.com