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Shibli’s lawyer, Ali Awad, said the alleged slap was racial discrimination, citing his wife’s “Palestine” T-shirt and a past Delta controversy over badges dubbed “Hamas”
Mohammad Shibli recounted his experience, stating that he remained composed throughout the flight but felt deeply humiliated and unsafe. (Representative/AP)
A passenger on a Delta Airlines flight, alleged that he was slapped by a flight attendant, sparking a legal battle in which he is now seeking $20 million (around Rs 166 crore) in compensation.
The incident occurred on July 29, when the passenger, Mohammad Shibli, was travelling from Atlanta to Fresno with his wife and two young children, aged 4 and 2. During the flight, Shibli’s younger son began crying for water. When his wife requested water from the flight attendant, the request was denied.
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The situation escalated when Shibli himself approached the attendant for water, only to be met with a stern refusal. Although other attendants later provided water and apologised, the issue did not end there.
A short time later, the same attendant offered water to Shibli again. Shibli declined, asking to be left alone. As the attendant walked past, he allegedly whispered an insult to Shibli, who responded in kind. At that moment, the attendant purportedly slapped Shibli hard on the face and resumed serving other passengers.
Shibli recounted his experience, stating that he remained composed throughout the flight but felt deeply humiliated and unsafe. “I was trapped in that flight for about four hours. I appeared helpless in front of my son and humiliated in front of my wife. No one should face physical assault on a plane,” he said.
Shibli’s lawyer, Ali Awad, argued that the incident goes beyond the denial of water, suggesting it was a case of racial discrimination. He pointed out that Shibli’s wife’s T-shirt featured the word “Palestine,” and linked this to a previous incident involving Delta Airlines, where attendants’ badges with Palestinian flags were controversially dubbed “Hamas badges” on social media.
The lawyer stated, “Delta should provide education and sensitivity training on Palestine to all its employees. My client’s day was ruined, and now Delta must pay the price.”
In response, Delta Airlines has suspended the accused attendant and announced that the matter is under investigation.
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