In a social media post that has since gained significant attention, passenger Barry Cohen described his experience on Lufthansa flight LH 1910 where in addition to the airline losing his luggage, a flight attendant made a shocking comment about the number of Jewish passengers on the plane.
"The stewardess, on board made a comment that there are so many Jews onboard they should be going to Auschwitz," Cohen wrote. "This is what I paid first class for? I am repulsed and offended."
Cohen, who identifies as Jewish, expressed his disgust at the "completely tone deaf and disrespectful comment" and concluded, "This 'Jew' will never fly Lufthansa again."
This allegation is particularly poignant given Lufthansa's history.
In 2022, the German flag carrier issued an apology after more than 100 Hasidic Jewish passengers were prevented from boarding a connecting flight, an incident the airline's CEO acknowledged was a "mistake" and promised to combat antisemitism.
A Surge in Airline-Related Antisemitism Since October 7th
Cohen's experience does not appear to be an isolated one.
Jewish advocacy groups and travelers have reported a disturbing increase in antisemitic incidents involving air travel since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The confined environment of an aircraft, coupled with heightened global tensions, has become a new front for harassment and hate speech.
Notable incidents from the past year include:
- Harassment on Flights: There have been multiple reports of passengers being verbally harassed for speaking Hebrew or being identifiably Jewish. In one widely reported case in November 2023, a flight to Tel Aviv was disrupted by a passenger allegedly shouting antisemitic slurs.
- Staff Conduct: Airline staff have also faced scrutiny. An Air Canada pilot was suspended in October 2023 for posting antisemitic messages and images on social media. Similarly, a Russian airline pilot was reportedly fired for making antisemitic statements online.
- Tense Announcements: Passengers on a Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna to Tel Aviv reported feeling intimidated after the pilot made a politically charged and anti-Israel announcement.
- Passangers removed off planes: Less than a month ago a group of 50 children were taken of a plane in Valencia only beacuse they were Jewish.
These events contribute to a climate of fear for many Jewish travelers.
The incidents highlight the responsibility of airlines to ensure that their aircraft are safe for all passengers, free from discrimination and hate.
