A lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court alleges that United Airlines diverted a transatlantic flight mid-air not because of a safety issue — but because the plane was filled with visibly Jewish passengers. The April 22, 2023, flight from Newark to Tel Aviv was abruptly turned back to New Jersey “after hours of flight for no valid reason,” according to the suit, which names nearly 60 Jewish passengers as plaintiffs. The passengers, many of whom were traveling to Israel for Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut, claim that anti-Jewish bias played a key role in the crew’s decision. According to the complaint, the incident began when one Jewish passenger briefly sat in a flight attendant’s jump seat while waiting to use the restroom. Instead of resolving the matter calmly, the “ill-trained and/or unvetted” United crew reportedly escalated the situation, choosing to turn the plane around and blaming the broader group of Jewish passengers for the disruption. “If one person is acting bad, it doesn’t mean everyone around them is responsible,” said attorney Yoram Nachimovsky, who is representing the plaintiffs. “This wasn’t about safety. This was about prejudice.” The suit claims that United staff made openly discriminatory remarks, including one instance where a passenger seeking assistance was allegedly told by a flight attendant to “go ask your own kind.” Upon returning to Newark, the Jewish passengers say they were offered no help or rebooking assistance, leaving many stranded and unable to make it to Israel for the national commemorations. “These skies were anything but friendly toward Jews,” the suit asserts. United Airlines has denied the allegations, calling the claims “meritless” in a statement. “One passenger who was a safety and security risk caused the flight to return to Newark,” United said. “Our crew put safety first and exhibited professionalism in managing this matter, and we will vigorously defend against these false allegations.” But the plaintiffs say the airline’s response only underscores the need for sensitivity training and accountability, not just damage control. “This wasn’t an isolated mistake,” Nachimovsky added. “It was a chilling example of collective punishment based on religion and appearance — and it can’t be allowed to stand.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)