Two Muslim men were removed from a Delta commuter flight operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines Friday after the pilot refused to fly with them on board.
Masudur Rahman, an Arabic-language instructor at the University of Memphis and Mohamed Zaghloul, a religious leader in the Islamic Association of Greater Memphis told the AP they were removed from a flight leaving Memphis International Airport, heading for Charlotte, after the pilot refused to takeoff.
According to Charlotte-area station WBTV, the men have "retained counsel and the US attorney's office has already been contacted about the incident."
Rahman told the AP he "was dressed in traditional Indian clothing" and Zaghloul "was dressed in Arab garb, including traditional headgear" when they boarded the 8:40 AM flight to Charlotte.
The plane had left the gate and was headed for the runway when the pilot decided to turn back. Rahman said the pair were "ordered off by a Delta Supervisor." From WBTV:
"He said 'Mr. Rahman, sorry the pilot is not allowing you to enter the plane.' I said 'For what reason, TSA had a problem and we were cleared, we don't have anything and we are respected people in our community'."
But, according to Rahman, the pilot said, "I'm not going to take to you."
"For what reason, he said some 'passengers might be upset or uncomfortable'," Raham said the pilot told him.
06/05/11 Evan McMorris-Santoro/TPM
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