Student removed from Southwest Airlines flight for speaking Arabic demands apology
- 8 years ago
LOS ANGELES — An Iraqi refugee is demanding Southwest Airlines apologize for kicking him off a flight.
University of California, Berkeley senior Khairuldeen Makhzoomi, 26, was removed from an Oakland-bound flight at Los Angeles on April 6, the Daily Californian reported.
Makhzoomi was in Los Angeles to attend a dinner at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Speaking in Arabic, Makhzoomi called his uncle in Baghdad from the plane to tell him about the dinner. But another passenger reported him to airline staff when he ended the call with the words "insha Allah," which means "God willing" in Arabic.
It seems the passenger freaked out when she thought Makhzoomi said "shahid," which is Arabic for martyr.
Makhzoomi was removed from the plane by airport security staff and given a grilling by the FBI.
Makhzoomi came to the U.S. as a refugee in 2002 after his father, an Iraqi diplomat, was killed by Saddam Hussein, the Daily Californian reported.
He said he had considered suing Southwest over the incident but now just wanted an apology, according to the Daily Californian.
Southwest said in a statement that the flight crew had investigated potentially threatening comments made by Makhzoomi on board the plane, the Daily Californian reported. The airline added that it had followed established procedures and said it did not condone discrimination.
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University of California, Berkeley senior Khairuldeen Makhzoomi, 26, was removed from an Oakland-bound flight at Los Angeles on April 6, the Daily Californian reported.
Makhzoomi was in Los Angeles to attend a dinner at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Speaking in Arabic, Makhzoomi called his uncle in Baghdad from the plane to tell him about the dinner. But another passenger reported him to airline staff when he ended the call with the words "insha Allah," which means "God willing" in Arabic.
It seems the passenger freaked out when she thought Makhzoomi said "shahid," which is Arabic for martyr.
Makhzoomi was removed from the plane by airport security staff and given a grilling by the FBI.
Makhzoomi came to the U.S. as a refugee in 2002 after his father, an Iraqi diplomat, was killed by Saddam Hussein, the Daily Californian reported.
He said he had considered suing Southwest over the incident but now just wanted an apology, according to the Daily Californian.
Southwest said in a statement that the flight crew had investigated potentially threatening comments made by Makhzoomi on board the plane, the Daily Californian reported. The airline added that it had followed established procedures and said it did not condone discrimination.
-------------------------------------------------------------
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Check out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj
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