An American airline has faced criticism after two men were briefly stopped from boarding a flight when another passenger became uncomfortable overhearing them speaking Arabic.
Pizza shop owner, Maher Khalil, emigrated from Palestine 15 years ago and now lives in Philadelphia. He said he has never experienced discrimination before Wednesday’s incident at Chicago’s Midway International Airport.
Mr Khalil said he was chatting with his friend, Anas Ayyad, while waiting to board a Southwest Airlines flight. When he approached the gate, he claims they were unable to board because another passenger felt uncomfortable.
Twenty-nine year-old, Mr Khalil told NBC Philadelphia: “If that person doesn’t feel safe, let them take the bus. We’re American citizens just like everybody else.”
Both Mr Khalil and Mr Ayyad said they felt they had been racially profiled by the airline.
“I didn’t know what to do, so I called the cops,” said Mr Khalil. The men were ultimately allowed to board the flight after being questioned by airport security and police.
Southwest said the flight departed 10 minutes late after a disagreement with two customers.
The airline added its employees are trained to address “passenger situations” to ensure the safety of flights.
A similar incident on the same evening led to a second flight being delayed at the Chicago airport, according to ABC Chicago.
Six men of Middle Eastern descent are alleged to have been removed from an aeroplane, flying from Chicago to Houston, after passengers questioned their behaviour when they supposedly asked people to switch seats so they could sit together.
In response, Southwest said: “Safety is our primary focus, and our employees are trained to make decisions to ensure that safety, and to safeguard the security of our crews and customers on every flight.”
The airline has faced criticism on Twitter, with many suggesting boycotting Southwest after the incidents.
Sarah Kendzior said: “Any airline that refuses passengers based on religion or ethnicity should be subject to national boycott. Start with @SouthWestAir.”
Anxiety surrounding airport security has peaked following the recent terror attack on a Russian plane killing all 224 people on board and last week’s Paris attacks, both of which Isis have claimed responsibility for.
Republican candidates running for US presidency have also fuelled unease.
Donald Trump has called for all US Muslims to register on a database, refusing to respond to comparisons between his policy and the treatment of Jewish people in Nazi Germany.
Ben Carson, Mr Trump’s rival, likened refugees fleeing Syria to rabid dogs.
President Barack Obama has heavily criticised the anti-refugee rhetoric in the wake of the Paris attacks, denouncing proposals by one Republican candidate that only Christians should be granted asylum as un-American.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
