US fines German airline Lufthansa for discrimination against Jewish passengers

German airline Lufthansa has been fined $4 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation over allegations that it discriminated against Jewish passengers. 

Lufthansa allegedly banned 128 passengers from wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing when headed on a flight from New York to Hungary in 2022, according to NBC News.

The airline alleged that members of the group behaved in an inappropriate way and violated the airline's mask policy. 

However, the DOT said that staff at Lufthansa "treated them all as if they were a single group and denied them boarding,” even though many were not together and didn't know each other. 

The fine marks the largest sum levied against an airline for civil rights violations.

“No one should face discrimination when they travel, and today’s action sends a clear message to the airline industry that we are prepared to investigate and take action whenever passengers’ civil rights are violated,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

The airline put out a statement saying that they are cooperating with the DOT regarding the investigation.