Photo: Abobakkr and Mohamed Credit: CAIR-WA

Elham Asaad Buaras

A discrimination lawsuit has been filed against Alaska Airlines for ejecting two Muslim passengers from a flight based on an Arabic text message, barring them from reboarding once authorities determined the message was harmless, and then preventing them from flying together.

The lawsuit filed on August 2 claims the Black and bearded passengers, identified only by their first names, were discriminated against based on “perceived religion, race, ethnicity, alienation, and national origin.”

The complaint filed by the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) is for damages and a jury trial in the U.S.

District Court for the Western District of Washington. CAIR-WA is also asking for an injunction to order Alaska Airlines to provide racial and religious sensitivity training for employees, as well as to establish culturally sensitive protocols and procedures for handling passenger complaints.

The suit claims the incident, which took place on February 17, 2020, was a federal and state violation of the passengers’ civil rights.

According to the Muslim advocacy group, the men, both American citizens of Sudanese descent, were subjected to discrimination on board the flight at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

While waiting in their first-class seats for take-off, Abobakkr exchanged a few text messages with a friend in Arabic. A fellow passenger, who did not speak Arabic, reported these texts to a flight attendant as suspicious.

Because of the complaint, the flight was delayed, and Abobakkr and Mohamed were removed from the plane and questioned.

An Alaska Airlines representative translated the messages into English, and a Port of Seattle Police Officer noted in a police report that an Alaska representative acknowledged “there was no threat of any kind””

“After it was determined that there was no security threat, Alaska Airlines chose to take several humiliating and distressing steps against Abobakkr and Mohamed,” CAIR wrote in a press release.

“The most embarrassing thing was when the agent came into the aircraft and had us stand up to leave with our bags… everyone saw us as we were removed,” said Mohamad.

The airline then deplaned all passengers on the flight and subjected them to another security screening, while Abobakkr and Mohamed were questioned by FBI and TSA agents in full view of their fellow travellers. Officials also used a K-9 unit to re-screen cargo and had the first-class bathroom tanks emptied because one of the men had used the lavatory.

Alaska Airlines, refused to comment on the details as the case is pending. However, a spokesman for the airline told The Muslim News the airline “strictly prohibits discrimination” and takes “such complaints very seriously.”

Adding that, “Our greatest responsibility is to ensure that our flight operations are safe every day, and that includes complying with federal regulations on investigating any passenger safety reports. Since this case remains pending litigation, we’re unable to share any further comments or details at this time.”