A U.S. Airways Captain defended the actions of another pilot, three days after two imams were kicked off a flight bound for Charlotte.
Lawyers for Masudur Rahman and Mohamed Zaghloul said the imams were pulled off a plane in Memphis before it headed to Charlotte Friday. The lawyers said the pilot refused to fly with them on board. He said the men passed multiple security clearances before boarding a Delta connection flight operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
The imams said they were victims of racial profiling. On Sunday, Capt. James Ray, who represents the pilot’s union for U.S. Airways, said it’s highly unlikely the pilot asked them to leave for that reason.
“I can promise you the captain didn’t throw those people off because of the way they were dressed. There’s more to the story,” Ray said.
The imams said the pilot told them the passengers were uncomfortable, but no passengers spoke up.
Ray said ultimately, it’s the captain’s call. “The captain operates in an environment that’s always changing. It’s dynamic. You can’t fly an airplane by committee,” he said.
Ray said last week, every pilot in the country received e-mail briefings from their airlines warning them to be on high alert because of Osama Bin Laden’s death. He said that may have played in a part in Friday’s decision.
“We don’t know if he had a message from air traffic control. We don’t know if he got a message from his corporate security people to take these people off. We don’t have all the answers.”
The imams were headed to Charlotte for a weekend conference on “islamophobia” - the fear of Islam.
They were put on another flight and arrived a few hours later.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines released a statement and said it apologizes for any inconvenience but it takes security very seriously. The imam’s attorney said his office plans to launch an investigation into the incident. If it turns out the pilot was not justified in putting the imams off the plane, his office will sue for negligence and a violation of civil rights.
Muslim Leaders Address “Islamophobia”
The annual conference in Charlotte was scheduled before Friday’s incident and before the death of Osama bin Laden. Conference organizers said the timing could not have been more coincidental.
“If the reason was security, the security was done, the security people were satisfied with us,” Rahman said. “It reminded me when the black lady was kicked from the bus because of racism. That history I found today in that plane.”
The conference addresses issues associated with islamophobia and teaches religious leaders how to deal with situations like what happened to Rahman in Memphis.
Others attending the conference said they’re also pushing for more understanding.
“We’re part of the community and we don’t mean to cause any problems. Just because we dress differently, doesn’t mean we’re any different. We have the same wants and desires as everyone else,” Farouq Abdussalam said. “If people were judged by their actions and not by their faith or religion we would not have as many problems, as many prejudices.”
The conference ran through Sunday. It’s held annually in different cities and organizers said they will only be focusing on domestic issues.
Muslim Leaders Removed From Charlotte Bound Plane
Both men passed multiple security clearances by TSA and Delta Airlines before boarding, Friday. They were even re-screened after they were pulled off the flight. Rahman said they had no problem being screened multiple times.
“It is their job to do it. It is out job to show our stuff. We don’t have anything. We are living in America; we want the security of America,” said Rahman.
But still the pilot refused to let them board.
“The only reason the pilot has cited was some of the passengers didn’t feel comfortable, but when the passengers were asked if they felt uncomfortable, none of them indicated that they were,” said the imams’ attorney, Mo Idibili.
The imams said despite urging from Delta officials, the pilot didn’t budge. They said Delta management apologized profusely and put them on a later flight. The flight the imams were kicked off of was operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines, which is based in Atlanta. It does business with Delta but is not part of Delta.
“Don’t convict them in your mind and heart because you may be uncomfortable with someone who may have a different faith,” said Jibril Hough with the Islamic Center of Charlotte.