American Airlines Delays Flight to Honor Slain Chabad Rabbi's Friend Attending Funeral
Two American Airlines employees received special commendations for extraordinary actions that enabled a close friend of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a Chabad emissary murdered in a Sydney terror attack, to attend his funeral on time. The attack occurred during a Hanukkah candle lighting event at Bondi Beach, Sydney, where 15 people were killed and dozens injured, including Rabbi Schlanger, who left behind a wife and five orphans.
Eli Rotman, a close friend of Rabbi Schlanger from South Florida, booked a last-minute flight from Miami to Los Angeles to connect to a different airline’s flight to Sydney. After a delay of over two hours on his first flight, Rotman feared missing the funeral. At Los Angeles International Airport, American Airlines customer service manager Zack Rakrocki was alerted to the situation and, despite Rotman not holding a ticket with American Airlines for the LAX-Sydney leg, coordinated with shift control manager Mohammed Najar to delay the transpacific flight by 46 minutes, a rare move usually reserved for large groups.
Additionally, American Airlines issued Rotman a free ticket to Sydney and arranged for him to board quickly by moving his seat forward. Upon arrival in Los Angeles, Rakrocki and Najar personally escorted Rotman to the connecting flight. The passengers and crew were informed of the urgent humanitarian reason for the delay and showed full understanding. Rotman reached Sydney just minutes before the funeral began.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom praised the employees for embodying the company’s values. At a ceremony in New York, the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation awarded the employees medals for exceptional moral leadership and compassion during a time of grief. The foundation highlighted the airline’s empathetic response amid rising antisemitic incidents in commercial aviation, contrasting it with typical bureaucratic indifference. The gala was attended by community leaders, educators, and Holocaust survivors, honoring the airline’s commitment to care and assistance.
