The Delta Dilemma: Flyer Rights in Post-9/11 America | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Delta Dilemma: Flyer Rights in Post-9/11 America

If you're not a part of the solution, you're a part of the problem.

41
The Delta Dilemma: Flyer Rights in Post-9/11 America
Wikimedia Commons

Fifteen years after the 9/11 attack on the twin towers, islamic and arabic people face extreme prejudices, shunned by Americans who perceive them as a threat. This detail, compounded by stricter airport security and flying regulations, creates a breeding ground for airline conflict. Last week, popular youtuber and prankster Adam Saleh released a video of confrontation with passengers and flight crew on board Delta flight 1 from London.

According to Saleh, he and friend, Slim Abaher, were escorted off of Delta flight 1 before departure on Wednesday, December 21st, after speaking on the phone with his mother, in the Arabic language. His claims of discrimination have prompted considerable backlash at Delta Airlines, which released a statement claiming their decision was made, "after a disturbance in the cabin resulted in more than 20 customers expressing their discomfort." London's Metropolitan Police spokesperson Camilla Goodman verified that neither man removed from the flight did "anything lawfully wrong" despite their mandatory departure from the plane. This is just one of many recent and highly publicized incidents with US Airlines, provoking conversation about flyer rights and transportation discrimination laws.

It is important to acknowledge that U.S. Code does indeed grant American citizens the right to fly, written in Title 9, Subtitle VII, "A citizen of the United States has a public right of transit through the navigable airspace."

In a notice to U.S. Airlines following the attack of 9/11, the U.S. Department of Transportation urges airline safety and security personnel to be particularly considerate of passengers that may be perceived to be of Arab, Middle Eastern, or South Asian descent and/or Muslim, strictly forbidding all forms of transportation discrimination. However, DOT encourages U.S. Airlines and contractors to lawfully, "Take all available facts and circumstances into account in identifying persons or property that may be a safety or security risk." In addition to this, it is important to recognize that DOT prioritizes transportation security: "Although your actions may, at times, offend the person involved, you would continue to be justified in conducting additional questioning, inspections or searches, for safety or security reasons, in certain situations,". In following these standards, airlines are permitted to otherwise operate by their own policy. One such policy: removing passengers that may create unnecessary conflict and disturbances in-flight.

According to Delta, the decision to remove Saleh and Abaher from the flight was in standing with their current policy and Contract of Carriage. After reviewing this Contract of Carriage, it is clear that the U.S. Airline is justified in their decision, and that passenger deplaning does not warrant actions that are "lawfully wrong", as many citizens may believe. Delta's Contract of Carriage states that the airline may remove passengers for a variety of reasons including, "when refusal to transport or removal of the passenger is reasonably necessary in Delta’s sole discretion for the passenger’s comfort or safety, for the comfort or safety of other passengers or Delta employees...". What kind of actions may warrant this decision? According to Delta, the following: "When the passenger’s conduct creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers". The ambiguity and subjectivity of language like "unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance" creates considerable room for interpretation. Interpretation that justifies the airline's decision, given Saleh's history of provoking racial confrontation and tensions on-board planes. The prioritization of security, safety, and comfort of passengers aboard planes is thematic among airline policy, validating actions made by airlines to deplane passengers that create considerable "risks" in-flight.

However disconcerting the circumstances and implications of this particular confrontation, the airline's actions appear to be constitutional, even as Delta Airlines unintentionally contributes to cultural and racial tensions in American. Circumstances such as those presented on-board Delta flight 1 on Wednesday are particularly hard to navigate and unfortunately, the resulting actions often-times validate, or make appropriate, American prejudices. Prejudice and discrimination is particularly hard to combat because the nature of its origin and perpetuation is not black and white. Many believe that any party not a part of the solution, is a part of the problem. It is this reason that many are critical of Delta's decision, despite the fact that the individual prejudices and discomfort experienced by the complaining passengers is to blame. Clearly, the sensitive nature of racial tensions warrants further reflection and examination of transportation policies, in hopes of producing a more effective and appealing remedy. However, we should expect nothing less than U.S. Airlines making the most commercially reasonable decisions within the boundaries of the law.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

142021
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

34500
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

30919
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments