(NewsNation) — Delta Airlines apologized Thursday for a tweet that was widely condemned online as racist and anti-Palestinian.
“On Wednesday, we removed a reply that was not in line with our values,” Delta said on X. “We strive for an environment of inclusivity & respect for all, in our communities & our planes.”
Earlier this week, an X user posted a picture of two flight attendants, both wearing Palestinian flag badges. In the caption, the user complained about seeing workers with badges “in the air,” to which Delta’s X account replied, “I hear you as I’d be terrified as well, personally.”
In a statement to NewsNation, Delta said it’s changing its policy to only allow employees to wear United States flags on their uniforms, effective Monday. Before this, pins representing other countries had been allowed.
The deleted tweet garnered criticism from organizations and people online who encouraged people to boycott Delta.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said whether the post had been officially approved by Delta or not, the airline “must apologize and take steps to educate its employees about this type of dangerous anti-Palestinian racism.”
“Bigotry against Palestinian-Americans is absolutely out of control in workplaces and at schools – and it must stop,” CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell wrote in a statement. The organization says it’s seen an uptick in anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim incidents since the Israel-Hamas war started last year. Over 8,000 anti-Muslim complaints were reported to CAIR last year — the highest number in three decades.
A group of Delta flight attendants attempting to unionize sent a letter to CEO Ed Bastian, saying flight attendants such as the ones in the X post have been harassed after pictures of them were taken without their consent and posted online.
“It is deeply troubling to publicly witness Delta seemingly affirm bigoted and inflammatory comments,” Delta AFA wrote about the incident. “Targeting any individuals on the basis of their nationality violates anti-discrimination laws, is antithetical to Delta’s stated commitment to inclusivity and respect, and encourages a hostile work environment.”
On X Thursday, Delta said the employee who had written the post about the badges “no longer supports Delta’s social channels.”
“We apologize for this hurtful post,” Delta said.
CAIR said Friday it welcomes the apology.
“(We) hope it sends a message to those who continue to dehumanize the Palestinian people as they face genocide, ethnic cleansing and forced starvation imposed by the far-right Israeli government, and enabled by the Biden administration,” CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said.
More than 38,300 people in Gaza have been killed in Israeli ground offensives and bombardments since last October, the local Health Ministry said, per reporting by the Associated Press. Israel began this military action in Gaza after Hamas militants stormed into the southern part of the country, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.