Delta Air Lines has found itself embroiled in a huge controversy over its social media post on the Palestinian flag. A now-deleted tweet by Delta, which is one of the major airlines of the United States, sympathized with a post that incorrectly said its two flight attendants, with Palestinian flag pins, were wearing “Hamas badges.”

An X user tweeted on Tuesday, “Since 2001 we take our shoes off in every airport because a terrorist attack in US soil. Now imagine getting into a Delta flight and seeing workers with Hamas badges in the air. What do you do?”

Since 2001 we take our shoes off in every airport because a terrorist attack in US soil. Now imagine getting into a @Delta flight and seeing workers with Hamas badges in the air. What do you do ? pic.twitter.com/xBbQllq2SM

— i like teslas (@iliketeslas) July 10, 2024

A day later, the Delta Air Lines’ X account responded to the post and said, “I hear you as I’d be terrified as well, personally. Our employees reflect our culture and we do not take it lightly when our policy is not being followed.”

The response, however, was deleted later.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the US’ largest Muslim advocacy organization, slammed the airline for the “racist anti-Palestinian” tweet and demanded an apology.

Whether this racist post on Delta’s X account was approved or unauthorized, Delta must apologize and take steps to educate its employees about this type of dangerous anti-Palestinian racism. Bigotry against Palestinian-Americans is absolutely out of control in workplaces and at… pic.twitter.com/3wezN6W8iN

— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) July 10, 2024

In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said,” Whether this racist post on Delta’s X account was approved or unauthorized, Delta must apologize and take steps to educate its employees about this type of dangerous anti-Palestinian racism. Bigotry against Palestinian-Americans is absolutely out of control in workplaces and at schools – and it must stop.”

Delta Air Lines’ Apology

After backlash, Delta Air Lines issued an apology on X and said it “strives for an environment of inclusivity and respect for all”. It also said the employee responsible “no longer supports Delta’s social channels”.

“On Wednesday, we removed a reply that was not in line with our values. We strive for an environment of inclusivity and respect for all, in our communities and our planes. The employee responsible no longer supports Delta’s social channels. We apologize for this hurtful post,” the airline said.

On Wednesday, we removed a reply that was not in line with our values. We strive for an environment of inclusivity & respect for all, in our communities & our planes. The employee responsible no longer supports Delta’s social channels. We apologize for this hurtful post.

— Delta (@Delta) July 11, 2024

According to CBS News, the two Delta employees photographed wearing the pins will continue to work for the airline as “it was in compliance with its uniform policy”.

Moving forward, though, employees will only be permitted to wear US flags on their uniforms, Delta said.

“Previously, pins representing countries/nationalities of the world had been permitted,” CBS News quoted Delta as saying.

“We are taking this step to help ensure a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment for all.  We are proud of our diverse base of employees and customers and the foundation of our brand, which is to connect the world and provide a premium experience,” the airline said.

Los Angeles:

A woman who says she was threatened with being kicked off a US Delta Air Lines flight because she was not wearing a bra demanded a meeting with the company’s top boss on Thursday over what she says is a discriminatory policy.

Lisa Archbold said she had on baggy jeans and a loose white t-shirt — with no bra — and claimed she was temporarily escorted off a flight by a female gate agent who demanded she cover up, even though her breasts were not visible.  

“It felt like a scarlet letter was being attached to me,” Archbold, 38, told reporters in Los Angeles about the January incident.

“I felt it was a spectacle aimed at punishing me for not being a woman in the way she thought I should be a woman as she scolded me outside of the plane.”

Archbold, a DJ who was flying from Salt Lake City in conservative Utah to the famously liberal San Francisco, claims the Delta agent said her attire was “revealing” and “offensive” and that airline policy was not to allow passengers dressed that way to travel.

But, the agent said, if she put a jacket over her t-shirt, she would be allowed to continue her journey.

Attorney Gloria Allred said she had written to Delta on behalf of Archbold demanding a meeting with the company’s president to discuss the discriminatory policy.

“Male passengers are not required to cover up their t-shirts with a shirt or a jacket,” she said.

“They also do not have to wear a bra to board or remain on a plane and women should not have to wear one either.

“Last I checked, the Taliban are not in charge of Delta.”

Allred said US federal rules allow airlines to remove passengers who present a safety or security risk to the plane or its passengers, but that was clearly not the case with Archbold.

“Neither her breasts nor any other woman’s breasts have ever tried to take over a plane,” she said.

“Breasts are not weapons of war, and it’s not a crime for a woman or girl to have them.”

Allred said there were currently no plans for a lawsuit and that all she and Archbold wanted was a meeting with Delta’s president to secure assurances their policies would be updated.

In response to AFP inquiries, a spokesperson for the company said: “Earlier this year, Delta representatives contacted this customer with an apology.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)