Current:Home > FinanceUS fines Lufthansa $4 million for treatment of Orthodox Jewish passengers on a 2022 flight -VitalWealth Strategies
US fines Lufthansa $4 million for treatment of Orthodox Jewish passengers on a 2022 flight
View
Date:2025-04-13 15:14:03
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States fined German airline Lufthansa $4 million for its treatment of a group of Jewish passengers who were denied boarding a 2022 flight in Frankfurt after they had flown to Germany from New York.
The U.S. Transportation Department said Tuesday that the fine is the largest the agency has issued against an airline for civil-rights violations, although Lufthansa was given credit for $2 million for compensation it gave the passengers, cutting the fine in half.
The department said most of the 128 passengers who were denied boarding “wore distinctive garb typically worn by Orthodox Jewish men.” Although many did not know each other and were not traveling together, they told investigators that Lufthansa treated them as if they were a group and denied boarding to all over alleged misbehavior by a few passengers.
They were among 131 passengers who were flying from New York through Frankfurt to Budapest to attend an annual memorial event to honor an Orthodox rabbi.
Some said flight attendants told them on the first flight about the requirement to wear a face mask and not to gather in aisles or near emergency exits. The Lufthansa crew members did not identify any passengers who failed to obey their instructions, which the airline said was due to the sheer number of violations and because many traded seats during the flight.
The captain alerted Lufthansa security about misbehavior among the passengers, which set in motion the steps that led to their being denied boarding on the connecting flight, according to a consent order in the case.
Lufthansa rejected “any allegation by the Department that the events in this matter resulted from any form of discrimination” and disputes that any employee acted on bias, but it acknowledged “errors in company procedure and communications.”
Lufthansa reached a settlement with most of the passengers in 2022.
veryGood! (521)
Related
- Olympic men's basketball bracket: Results of the 5x5 tournament
- Kelly Clarkson Addresses Ozempic Rumors After Losing Weight
- David Sanborn, saxophonist who played with David Bowie, dies at 78 from prostate cancer
- Middle school assistant principal arrested in connection to triple homicide case from 2013: Reports
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- I've hated Mother's Day since I was 7. I choose to celebrate my mom in my own way.
- George Clooney will make his Broadway debut in 'Good Night, and Good Luck' in spring 2025
- Third Real Housewives of Potomac Star Exits Amid Major Season 9 Cast Shakeup
- US Open player compensation rises to a record $65 million, with singles champs getting $3.6 million
- Cannes set to unfurl against backdrop of war, protests and films
Ranking
- RFK Jr. grilled again about moving to California while listing New York address on ballot petition
- Gov. Kristi Noem banished by 2 more South Dakota tribes, now banned from nearly 20% of her state
- After nine years of court oversight, Albuquerque Police now in full compliance with reforms
- Howard University cancels nurses' graduation mid-ceremony after door is smashed
- Kehlani Responds to Hurtful Accusation She’s in a Cult
- How a group of veterans helped a U.S. service member's mother get out of war-torn Gaza
- Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani, likely to plead not guilty as a formality
- Dallas Stars take commanding series lead vs. Colorado Avalanche with Game 4 win
Recommendation
House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
Taylor Swift will be featured on Eras Tour opener Gracie Abrams' new album, 'The Secret of Us'
Kelly Clarkson Addresses Ozempic Rumors After Losing Weight
US energy panel approves rule to expand transmission of renewable power
Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
Florida man sentenced to 3 years in prison for firebombing California Planned Parenthood clinic
Honda recalling lawn mowers, pressure washer equipment due to injury risk when starting
Uber driver accused of breaking into passenger's home, raping her, after dropping her off