Prominent Israeli photographer Yossi Davidov was thrown off an Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna to Tel Aviv for “unruly behavior” but he insists he was ousted from the flight because he is an Israeli, and for no other reason.
According to the Channel 2 News report, he got into a dispute with a Muslim flight attendant who was concerned with the weight of his camera. He insists she singled him and his colleagues out, telling them their onboard bags were too large. Davidov began cursing in Hebrew. When police arrived to remove him from the flight he said “You killed 6 million Jews. Do you wish to kill another one?”
The flight was delayed for almost 90 minutes as Davidov was escorted off the plane by police. While some accuse him of embarrassing Israelis he insists he was targeted only because the Muslim flight attendant targeted them. When he asked her why she is harassing them, she reportedly responded “I learned it from you”.
It is reported the flight attendant was wearing a headscarf and Davidov believes they were singled out because she saw his Magen David on a chain around his neck. Most of the 220 people on board did not side with Davidov, who they feel acted inappropriately.
Davidov’s lawyer Reuven Leviev explained his client was in Vienna to cover an event of the Buchari Jewish community, which he is a part of. He explains his client believes he was targeted because of his Magen David. Leviev adds the camera equipment is worth tens of thousands of dollars and this is why he did not wish to check it in as requested. Leviev adds he carries the equipment on flights without problems.
He was released with a €100 fine. Leviev adds Davidov expresses remorse.
Austrian Airlines also responded to the incident with a statement: “We regret the behavior of certain passengers, which caused a delay of an hour and 20 minutes to Austrian Airlines flight OS859 from Vienna to Tel Aviv. In every case where passengers arrive with overweight luggage, as was the case here, they are pointed towards the overweight baggage counter, where we try and help as much as possible.
“Due to the fact that some of these passengers’ baggage was fragile, the crew offered that if there is space available on the flight, the baggage could be stored aboard, or in the luggage compartment, however, the passengers refused to send their excess luggage to the luggage compartment, chose to not follow the crew’s instructions, the instructions that are meant to maintain the safety of all passengers on board, and began causing trouble. Furthermore, these passengers were removed from the aircraft while being escorted by airport security. We are saddened by these situations and our primary focus is the safety of the flight and all passengers aboard.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
Any Austrian policemen who took part in the holocaust are either dead by now or hiding in Argentina.
He should have talked politely and not cursed and asked nicely where he could safely place his fragile equipment. Then maybe he would have a case.
When will Israelis stop thinking that every time they are reprimanded for their unreasonable behaviour it is because of the holocaust or because of more modern day anti-semitism. I have seen the arrogant Israelis on European airlines and their behaviour makes you want to cringe. They shout, demand and generally do their best to make the flight attendants and the other passengers want to hate them, and they are very good at it. And of course when the subject here is the “Prominent Israeli photographer”, he expects more than most because he is not just Mr Davidov but the Prominent Mr Davidov. Davidov, grow up. Pack your equipment in a proper professional way and check it in like all other professional photographers do. Oh and why is YWN promoting this story which is old, by putting it near the top of the news section?
One would think that on a flight to TLV, many or most of the passengers would be Jewish. To claim that he was singled out because he was Jewish is disingenuous.
Would you expect a muslim not to give a jew a hard time if the oppotunity arose right or wrong . what do you expect from austrians many of who helped the nazis . remember our friend kurt wilheim yemach shmo. next time try to fly a better airline if available
3,
Let me defend the Mod, not that he needs my defense.
The placement of the news story isn’t up to the moderator. The stories line up as they are posted. When you saw it, it may have been in the top two or three but I guarantee you when you come back in a few hours it will be MUCH farther down the list.
Both Germany & Austria should be in absolute Cherem, and no self loving Jew, should ever set foot on these 2 evil countries ever.
7: The rest of Europe was not that much better.
A lot of israelies need to be domesticated before they leave the country.no offense
KJ screaming anti-Semitism because the locals don’t want the annexation: Discrimination or Chillul Hashem?
147, According to that logic we shouldn’t set foot in England, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Ukraine, France, The whole middle east (that’s no problem) except for Israel etc etc.
However, as far as I am aware the only place where there is actually a cherem to stay overnight because of what the locals did to Yieden, is York in England. That’s due to a massacre of 150 Jews in 1190. I imagine most readers here are not even aware of this.
Flight attendants do this all the time. We have to stop pretending that we don’t have to obey the rules.