**U.S. Fines Lufthansa $4 Million Over Treatment of Jewish Passengers**

The United States has levied a $4 million fine on German airline Lufthansa for its handling of a group of Jewish passengers who were barred from boarding a connecting flight in Frankfurt after traveling from New York in 2022. The U.S. Transportation Department announced the fine on Tuesday, describing it as the largest they have ever imposed for civil-rights violations by an airline. However, Lufthansa received a $2 million credit for compensating the passengers, effectively reducing the penalty by half.

The incident involved 128 passengers, most of whom wore attire typically associated with Orthodox Jewish men. Despite not knowing each other or traveling as a group, the passengers reported being treated collectively by Lufthansa due to alleged misbehavior by a few individuals. This group was among 131 passengers traveling from New York to Budapest via Frankfurt to attend a memorial event for an Orthodox rabbi.

According to passenger accounts, flight attendants on the initial flight from New York had reminded them of mask-wearing requirements and instructed them not to gather in the aisles or near emergency exits. Despite these instructions, no specific passengers were identified for failing to comply, reportedly due to the high number of violations and seat-swapping during the flight. This behavior prompted the flight captain to notify Lufthansa security, ultimately leading to the decision to deny boarding for the connecting flight.

Lufthansa has refuted any accusations of discrimination, asserting that their actions were not influenced by bias. However, the airline did acknowledge procedural and communication errors on their part. In 2022, Lufthansa reached a settlement agreement with most of the affected passengers.

The U.S. Transportation Department's ruling underscores the importance of fair and unbiased treatment of passengers, marking a significant precedent in upholding civil rights in air travel.