More than a hundred Jewish passengers denied boarding Budapest plane: historic fine imposed

German Lufthansa denied 128 Jewish passengers boarding a plane from Frankfurt to Budapest because they treated them as a single group and some were allegedly misbehaving. Now, they will pay USD 4 million, the largest penalty ever issued against an airline for civil rights violations.

Lufthansa denied boarding Jewish passengers

According to Reuters, the incident happened in May 2022. The German airline denied 128 Jewish passengers wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish garments to board their connecting flight from Frankfurt to Budapest. The passengers came from New York, and some of them allegedly behaved inappropriately. Since Lufthansa treated them as a group, all were denied boarding the plane. However, most passengers did not know each other, and only a few did not follow crew instructions.

Now, Lufthansa will have to pay the highest penalty imposed on an airline for breaching civil rights in the United States. They will pay USD 2 million to the country’s transport ministry and another USD 2 million to compensate the passengers.

Lufthansa aircraft in Budapest. Photo: FB

“Unfortunate series of inaccurate communications”

Interestingly, Lufthansa did not admit any discrimination or violations and insisted that more than 60 Jewish men were disregarding crew instructions. However, they apologised for treating the individuals as a group. They said the incident “resulted from an unfortunate series of inaccurate communications, misinterpretations, and misjudgments throughout the decision-making process.”

Lufthansa said they cooperated with the Department of Transportation (USDOT) after 2022, partnered with the American Jewish Committee and began “a first-of-its-kind training program in the airline industry for our managers and employees to address antisemitism and discrimination.”

Photo: Creative Commons

Why do Orthodox Jews come to Hungary?

Reuters did not write about why 128 Orthodox Jewish men decided to come to Hungary. We only assume they came because of an annual pilgrimage, so their final destination was not Budapest but Bodrogkeresztúr. The tiny Hungarian village is located near the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region and hosts the tomb of a so-called “miracle Rabbi”, Shaya’la, or Yeshaya Steiner, who died there in 1925.

In 2023, more than 70,000 Hasidic Jewish pilgrims visited the village. We wrote before that locals are concerned about the many tourists who drive up real estate prices in the settlement. Furthermore, Rabbi Rubin, the grandson of the “miracle Rabbi” thinks many Jews are considering moving back to Bodrogkeresztúr.

“It will be like going back to the past, going back to the days before the Holocaust when many Jews were living in the villages in the area. I think I’m too old to see that, but my sons will be here soon to take my place,” said Rabbi Rubin.

Read also:

• Orthodox Jews in New York order their kaftans from Hungary – read more HERE
• Brooklyn is the biggest Hungarian “city” after Budapest? – VIDEOS and more HERE
• Hungary’s first Micva Mobile in-service – photos and more in THIS article

Featured image: illustration, depositphotos.com