American Airlines to Jewish passengers: Lose the necklace or lose the seat

Two Jewish women are suing American Airlines, alleging they were barred from boarding a flight due to their visible expression of Jewish identity, according to a report by Channel 12 News on Sunday.

The plaintiffs, Miriam Einhorn and Rivka Gloch, claim they were denied entry to a flight departing from Miami International Airport on November 18, 2024, after one of them wore a Star of David necklace. The women had cleared all standard security checks and arrived at the gate in time to board their scheduled flight to New York. However, they say they were abruptly informed that their seats had already been reassigned.

Airline staff allegedly told the pair that they had arrived too late to board, but the women assert that this claim was false and that the real reason was religious bias against Rivka’s visibly worn necklace bearing the Jewish symbol.

In a federal court complaint, Einhorn and Gloch allege they were met with “hostile looks” upon approaching the gate and were subjected to ridicule and laughter by airline personnel when they pleaded to be allowed on board.

After being denied boarding, the women were rebooked on a later flight approximately 12 hours afterward. They were required to pay an additional $25 each for the new tickets. While waiting at the airport, they spoke with an American Airlines representative, who reportedly confirmed that passengers are only required to be at the gate 15 minutes before departure - a requirement they say they had met.

The lawsuit alleges that the women were removed from their original flight “in whole or in part because of their Jewish faith,” and seeks accountability from the airline for what they describe as a discriminatory and humiliating experience.