United Airlines Grounds Pilot Over Anti-Israel Remarks and Colleague Concerns
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
United Airlines has suspended pilot Ibrahim Mossallam, an activist with CAIR, due to his anti-Israel social media posts and concerns from colleagues. Initially suspended in October 2023 for calling the Hamas attack "resistance," he was later reinstated after union intervention. Following recent incidents and renewed scrutiny, the airline has grounded him again pending an investigation, with fellow pilots reportedly opting to monitor him during a flight.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- United Airlines grounded pilot Ibrahim Mossallam over anti-Israel statements and colleague concerns.
- Mossallam's October 2023 posts called the Hamas attack "resistance" and "provoked by the Zionist regime."
- He was initially suspended, then reinstated after a six-month paid leave following union intervention.
- Colleagues expressed distrust, with two pilots reportedly monitoring him from the cockpit jump seat.
- The airline confirmed Mossallam is suspended again and under investigation.
- Mossallam is an activist with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) New York chapter.
United Airlines has grounded pilot Ibrahim Mossallam, an activist with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) New York chapter, following concerns raised by colleagues and renewed scrutiny of his past statements. Mossallam had previously been suspended in October 2023 after posting on social media that the Hamas attack was "resistance by a courageous people who have endured occupation, oppression, and apartheid," and was "provoked by the Zionist regime." At that time, the airline considered firing him, but a union intervention led to a six-month paid leave instead, after which he was allowed to fly again. During this period, Mossallam continued to make anti-Israel statements, praising "Palestinian resistance" and accusing "Zionists of seeking to seize Palestine."
Recent events on a Flydubai flight prompted United Airlines to re-evaluate its policy regarding pilots with Islamist affiliations. The airline confirmed Mossallam is once again suspended and under investigation for his conduct. The situation was further highlighted when two fellow pilots, flying as passengers on Mossallam's flight, reportedly refused to sit in first class. Instead, they chose to occupy jump seats in the cockpit, allegedly to monitor Mossallam's actions during the flight. Colleagues have expressed distrust towards Mossallam following these incidents.
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