A Delta Airlines passenger posted a picture of a ground crew member wearing a keffiyeh, claiming it is a symbol of ‘violence’ and ‘genocide’ against Jewish people.
The passenger, who goes by the username Jejkings on X, encountered the employee while boarding their flight from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Tuesday.
They shared a photo of the employee wearing a black-and-white checkered keffiyeh, the Palestinian version of the traditional headdress worn throughout the Middle East.
‘Today, while boarding my flight from JFK with Delta Airlines, I was shocked and deeply disturbed to see an employee wearing a white keffiyeh,’ the user said.
‘This symbol has become strongly associated with calls for violence and even genocide against Jews worldwide.’
The passenger disparaged the airline for allowing their employees to wear keffiyehs.
‘How can such a display be permitted by Delta Airlines? This is not just offensive—it is a blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of Jewish passengers,’ the passenger said.
‘I urge Delta to address this immediately and ensure that such incidents do not happen again. Symbols matter. Words matter.’
A Delta spokesperson told DailyMail.com, ‘The item of clothing in question is not in compliance with Delta uniform guidelines.’
The image sparked a heated debate online after the grassroots watchdog organization Stop Antisemitism reposted it on X.
‘A Delta passenger at JFK Airport was horrified to see a grounds crew member wearing a keffiyeh—a symbol that has been appropriated and associated with violence against Jews,’ Stop Antisemitism said.
‘How unsettling to witness this moments before boarding a plane. This poses a safety concern for all passengers.’
Some commenters agreed with the poster that an airline employee wearing the scarf makes them uncomfortable.
‘Seriously, that’s the last thing you want to see at the damn airport. How unsettling indeed,’ one person said.
‘It has no place in a professional environment,’ said another.
Others defend the employee, noting that the keffiyeh has been worn across the Middle East for years and the worker appeared to be doing his job.
‘He seems to be minding his own business,’ one person said.
‘Have we considered that he might be wearing that simply because it’s 25 degrees in New York and he spends much of his day working outside? He’s wearing it like a scarf,’ said another.
‘Wanting to dictate what people can and can’t wear is crazy,’ a third person said.