U.S. Fines Lufthansa $4 Million for Denying Boarding to 128 Jewish Passengers

Oct 15, 2024, 07:26 PM

The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined German airline Lufthansa a record $4 million for allegedly discriminating against Jewish passengers during a May 2022 flight. The fine, the largest ever issued by the Department for a civil rights violation, comes after Lufthansa denied boarding to 128 Jewish passengers connecting through Frankfurt from New York to Hungary. The passengers, many of whom were wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing, were prevented from boarding due to the alleged misbehavior of some individuals who reportedly refused to wear face masks during the pandemic. Lufthansa has agreed to pay the penalty.