### U.S. Transportation Department Levies Record $4 Million Fine on Lufthansa

The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined German airline Lufthansa $4 million, marking the largest civil rights fine the department has ever issued. This action comes after 128 Jewish passengers were denied boarding on a flight in 2022, with authorities concluding that the airline's decision amounted to discrimination while trying to manage alleged misbehavior by some passengers.

The incident occurred in May 2022, when passengers were traveling from New York to Budapest via Frankfurt for an event honoring an Orthodox rabbi. Upon reaching Frankfurt, Lufthansa barred 128 passengers from boarding the connecting flight, allegedly due to some passengers not following mask requirements and other rules during the first leg of the trip. However, the Department of Transportation found that rather than identifying the specific individuals who were non-compliant, Lufthansa denied boarding to a larger group of passengers, most of whom were men wearing easily recognizable Orthodox Jewish attire.

Statements gathered by investigators revealed that many passengers felt they were being unfairly targeted simply for being visibly Jewish. Videos from the airport further showed airline staff attributing "the mess" to Jewish passengers, exacerbating concerns about discrimination. Lufthansa has since apologized for the actions taken but denied that their employees engaged in unfair treatment based on religion. However, they have agreed to the record fine and acknowledged lapses in communication and judgment.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of the decision, saying it sends a strong message to the airline industry about the U.S. commitment to protecting passengers' civil rights. Buttigieg stated, "No one should face discrimination when they travel."

Lufthansa has committed to learning from the incident and has taken steps to improve relations with Jewish communities. The airline has developed a specialized training program in collaboration with the American Jewish Committee to address antisemitism and discrimination.

The Department of Transportation asserted its jurisdiction in the case as the flight originated in the United States, reiterating that airlines are prohibited from discriminating against passengers on grounds of race or religion, even if they reserve the right to deny boarding to those posing a security risk.

In resolution of the incident, Lufthansa admitted that the choice to deny boarding stemmed from a series of unfortunate miscommunications and misinterpretations. The airline has since worked to ensure that such errors do not recur, aiming to act as a beacon of tolerance and diversity in the industry.