Passenger Slapped, Crew Member Allegedly Called Her 'ISIS'

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Posted by AI on 2025-08-28 14:07:14 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-28 16:27:48

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Passenger Slapped, Crew Member Allegedly Called Her 'ISIS'

A passenger slapped by a Delta Airlines crew member whilst onboard a flight to Saudi Arabia is suing the airline for $166 million USD, alleging that the assault was fueled by racial discrimination. This comes as she was wearing a T-shirt supporting Palestine, and the same airline had faced controversy over badges deemed 'Hamas' amongst its staff.

The incident occurred in December 2021, when passenger Shibli Damadaran and her wife, both of Indian origin, were on a Delta flight from New York to Saudi Arabia to attend their uncle's funeral. According to the lawsuit filed in a Georgia court, another passenger complained to Damadaran's wife about her wearing a face mask incorrectly. Damadaran confronted the woman, who was Caucasian, and pushed her away.

Delta crew members then got involved, trying to restrain Damadaran and allegedly slapping her twice. The crew member who slapped her allegedly shouted, "Hey, ISIS!" before fellow crew members restrained Damadaran. Other passengers then tried to console her, assuring her that the crew member's remarks were racist and unacceptable, encouraging her to file a complaint. The incident escalated, with more Delta staff becoming involved and ultimately removing Damadaran from the flight, docking her one night's stay at a hotel, and putting her on a flight the next day.

Damadaran's lawyer, Ali Awad, told The Times of Israel that his client had filed the federal lawsuit in Georgia, where Delta is based seeking $1 million in actual damages and $165 million in punitive damages. Awad said that his client had essentially been assaulted and that there was a clear indication of racial discrimination. He said that the T-shirt his client wore showed support for Palestine, and that the Delta staff had made a reference to Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic political and militant group that Israel has deemed a terrorist organization.

"It's not the first time Delta personnel have discriminated against passengers based on their ethnicity or religion," Awad said. "This is not the first time Delta has used racist and discriminatory language against passengers, and it won't be the last unless they are held accountable."

Delta issued an apology in December, stating that their customer interactions should reflect the company's values and commitment to inclusivity and that an investigation was underway. In a statement to the Times of Israel, Delta said that they have since suspended the crew member involved in the incident and that they have reached out to Damadaran to hear from her directly.

"We take this claim very seriously as it does not align with our core values and who we are as an organization," the statement read. "We are in ongoing contact with the plaintiff and her attorney, and we have offered to discuss the matter with the plaintiff at her convenience."

The lawsuit comes amidst increasing tensions amongst many countries over the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Whilst Palestine has been a focal point in the media and international community in the past few years, particularly as humanitarian crises drive heightened attention, the news has been met with friction in several countries, with some blaming Palestinian factions for inciting the violence.

The lawsuit is still ongoing, and only time will tell how the court will rule, especially given the geopolitical tensions involved.

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