The Qantas stewardess who wore a Palestinian flag badge on a flight has asked for help in ‘fighting’ against the person who reported her to the media.
Emma Ale, along with a number of other cabin crew members, wore the ‘divisive’ pins on a flight from Melbourne to Hobart on December 20.
A photo of Ms Ale wearing the Palestine badge taken by a passenger quickly began circulating on social media this week, forcing Qantas to respond.
Now, the stewardess has contacted Palestinian Christians in to ask for ‘all the help’ to ‘fight against the person who reported me to the media’.
‘I am praying you view this! I am a flight attendant who works for Qantas and a strong advocate for Free Palestine,’ she wrote in a Facebook message to the group.
Emma Ale, along with a number of cabin crew members, wore the ‘divisive’ pins (pictured above her name tag) on a flight from Melbourne to Hobart on December 20
Now, the stewardess has contacted Palestinian Christians in to ask for ‘all the help’ to ‘fight against the person who reported me to the media’ (pictured)
‘My photo is being posted all over Sky News for wearing a Palestinian pin during my shift, I need all the help possible.
‘I am yet to have a conversation with my company and where my employment leads.
‘However, if this jeopardises my career, I need all the help I can get to fight against the person who reported me to the media.’
Qantas is understood to have spoken to Ms Ale after the photos began gaining traction online on Wednesday and again on Thursday.
The airline confirmed staff members are only permitted to wear flag badges if they spoke the national language of the country.
‘During a recent flight from Melbourne to Hobart, some of our cabin crew wore a Palestinian flag badge,’ a Qantas spokesperson said in a statement.
‘Cabin crew are not allowed to wear any badges unless they are part of the approved uniform, such as a name tag.
‘Every customer should feel safe and respected when flying on a Qantas aircraft.’
The uproar came after a passenger, who is not Jewish, said they were ‘intimidated’ by the pin and posted photos of Ms Ale wearing the badge.
‘I saw a bunch of staff working for Qantas – they were all wearing Palestinian flags,’ the passenger told Sky News.
‘They say that it’s not allowed, but Qantas have a history of doing this – they’ve done this time and time again.
Qantas said staff were being ‘reminded’ of the uniform policy in lieu of the incident
‘It’s so disappointing to see a major n airline carrier that receives so much government money getting so involved in politics time and time again.’
Chief executive of the n Jewish Association Robert Gregory blasted the badges as ‘divisive’ and said airplanes were no place for political activism.
‘Political activism doesn’t belong in sport, it doesn’t belong in the theatre, and it doesn’t belong in airplanes while ns are heading off to enjoy their holidays. All ns should feel safe while flying,’ Mr Gregory said.
‘If employees are found to be using their roles for political activism while passengers are essentially captive in the air, they should be dismissed.
‘These incidents aren’t isolated and Qantas management should address the divisive political activism coming from their staff.’
Qantas said staff were being ‘reminded’ of the uniform policy in lieu of the incident.