A United Airlines flight attendant faced backlash on Tuesday after she was seen wearing a Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) flag pin and a keffiyeh around her neck, according to The New York Post. Despite the criticism, United Airlines has affirmed its commitment to its uniform policy, which allows flight staff to wear flag pins representing their pride.
In a statement to The New York Post, the airline defended its policy, explaining that it has long permitted flight attendants to wear flag pins to indicate specific language skills. This practice is intended to help passengers who are more comfortable in languages other than English identify crew members who can assist them in their preferred language.
Jewish civil rights group StopAntisemitism condemned United Airlines for what it called a divisive political statement by allowing such symbols. The group was alerted by an outraged passenger who observed the staffer wearing the pin and keffiyeh on a flight from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to Newark Airport.
Liora Rez, founder of StopAntisemitism, expressed concern about the increasing trend of airline employees displaying Palestinian flags and keffiyehs while on duty. “StopAntisemitism is alarmed by this trend,” Rez stated, according to The New York Post. “There are no flights to Palestine.”