Israeli Flight Attendant Sues Delta Airlines for Discrimination and Antisemitism.
Israeli flight attendant Sharon Lavy has filed a lawsuit against Delta Airlines, alleging discrimination and retaliation after raising concerns about antisemitic conduct within the company. In her legal action, Lavy claims that Delta retaliated against her for speaking out about colleagues supporting Hamas, subjecting her to "ambush tactics" and a series of fabricated accusations that ultimately led to her termination after 18 years of service.
Lavy’s lawsuit outlines several false claims against her, including being accused of using her phone inappropriately, eating steak in front of passengers during boarding, and even kicking a colleague. The lawsuit also highlights the use of a deepfake video that falsely depicted her on a plane she had no training for, which she believes was fabricated to discredit her.
“My allegations are part of a coordinated effort to retaliate against me,” Lavy asserts, claiming that these accusations were a means to force her out of the company. She also points to a troubling incident involving the mishandling of an emergency situation on a flight, where Delta reportedly did not follow proper protocols when a violent passenger assaulted another Israeli flight attendant.
Lavy and her Israeli colleague, Roey Segev, have both alleged that they were harassed and reprimanded for assisting Hebrew-speaking passengers, with their actions being scrutinized and deemed improper by management. Lavy further claims that when she and Segev raised concerns about the hiring of employees supporting Hamas, their complaints were not addressed, while non-Jewish employees’ issues were taken seriously.
In response to the lawsuit, Delta Airlines has stated, "We do not comment directly on pending litigation, and Delta has zero tolerance for discrimination of any form or retaliation in our workplace." However, Lavy is seeking damages for the mental and physical distress caused by the alleged harassment, as well as legal fees and compensation for the harm caused by her treatment at Delta.
This lawsuit is part of a series of legal actions taken against Delta, including other complaints from flight attendants alleging religious discrimination and mistreatment. Lavy’s case draws attention to broader concerns about discrimination and retaliation within the workplace, particularly related to antisemitism and the treatment of employees based on their ethnicity or beliefs.
Delta Airlines has faced several discrimination lawsuits in the past. In 2022, a former flight attendant filed a lawsuit claiming the airline discriminated against her for taking time off to observe Yom Kippur, a significant Jewish holiday. The lawsuit alleged that Delta denied her request for time off, which resulted in emotional distress and career setbacks.
In 2019, Delta was also involved in a lawsuit from an employee who claimed gender and racial discrimination. The employee alleged that she was treated unequally in terms of promotions and pay compared to her male colleagues, and that she faced hostile work conditions due to her race.
Another lawsuit occurred in 2021 when a flight attendant accused Delta of religious discrimination after the airline allegedly denied her request for time off to observe her religious practices. The employee claimed that her religious beliefs were not respected, and that the company retaliated against her for speaking out.
