An Israeli flight attendant based in California has filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines, claiming the company discriminated against him because of his Jewish and Israeli identity.
Sasi Sheva, 44, alleges that Delta disregarded his religious dietary needs and unjustly denied his request for time off on Yom Kippur.
The 21-page lawsuit, filed in federal court in Brooklyn, details several incidents of alleged discrimination over the two-and-a-half years Sheva has worked for Delta. In one instance, he says he was rushed from a hotel to the runway without time to eat and was given a ham sandwich on board, despite his employee profile clearly indicating that he keeps kosher and is vegetarian. His requests for suitable food were ignored, he claims.
Sheva argues that Delta has a"pattern of intentionally discriminating and retaliating against ethnically Jewish, Hebrew and/or Israeli employees based upon their race and ancestry." The lawsuit also alleges that Delta denied his request for leave on Yom Kippur without reasonable justification, citing conflicts with the airline’s seniority system.
“Delta has zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind as part of our deeply-held values as a global airline connecting the world,” a Delta spokesperson said, declining to further comment on the pending litigation.
Sheva also claims that he faced harassment after raising concerns about workplace accidents, including a shuttle crash and a fall on a flight, which led to medical leave. He alleges that management downplayed his injuries and mistreated him for voicing his concerns.
The lawsuit comes amid broader accusations of discrimination against Jewish and Israeli employees at Delta, some of which have led to similar legal actions. Sheva is seeking compensation for psychological, emotional and economic damages.
In July, Delta faced criticism when a flight attendant wore a Palestinian flag pin, prompting the airline to change its policy to allow only U.S. flag pins. The AFA-CWA union opposed the move, saying it set a dangerous precedent against employees deemed "not American enough."