Air Canada Launches Internal Review After Passenger Complaint
Air Canada has confirmed it is conducting a review following a formal complaint from a Toronto-based Jewish passenger regarding a flight attendant who wore a politically charged pin on her uniform during a recent flight. The incident occurred on a journey from Toronto to Atlanta last week.
Details of the Controversial Pin and Passenger Reaction
The pin in question was shaped like the map of Israel but was illustrated using the colours associated with the Palestinian flag. It featured an image of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in Jerusalem's Old City, at its centre. The passenger, author and businessman Israel Ellis, reported the incident to the National Post, stating he felt the flight attendant's demeanor was hostile, particularly upon noticing the Star of David necklaces he and his wife were wearing.
Ellis expressed that there is no place for political statements of any kind on a public airline, especially those related to highly polarized international issues. He described the pin as a guise for antisemitism that normalizes calls for the erasure of Jewish people and constitutes a clear call for genocide.
Air Canada's Response and Uniform Policy
In an email response to the National Post, Peter Fitzpatrick, Air Canada's manager of corporate communications, stated, "We are reviewing this matter. We will address it directly with the employee involved, as appropriate." He clarified the company's stance on uniform adornments, noting that the airline maintains a strict policy governing which pins and symbols are permissible for staff to wear.
Fitzpatrick explained that the permitted items are from a finite list and are non-political in nature, drawing a comparison to symbols like the remembrance poppy. This suggests the pin worn by the flight attendant was not an approved part of the uniform.
Ellis shared phone photos of the pin with the National Post and mentioned that he had written directly to Air Canada to complain but had not received a response at the time of his statement. He also posted about his experience on Instagram, where it garnered significant attention with almost 3,000 responses and 1,400 comments.
Ellis stated that the experience left him feeling "harassed, threatened, and unsafe in a situation … that should be providing comfort and security regardless of my identity." He added that seeing the pin supported by an Air Canada employee was unnerving and felt like a betrayal to Canada's Jewish community.
