Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline, has been fined a record $4 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for discriminating against Jewish passengers.

The fine arises from a May 2022 incident where 128 Jewish passengers, identifiable by their Orthodox attire, were denied boarding on a New York to Budapest flight in Frankfurt due to alleged misbehavior by a few, despite the passengers not knowing each other or traveling together.

The airline attributed the situation to a series of miscommunications and judgments, asserting that it did not support claims of discrimination.

The DOT described this penalty as its largest for civil rights violations, emphasizing that no one should face discrimination while traveling, CNN has reported.

In response, Lufthansa stated it is collaborating with Jewish organizations to implement training programs aimed at addressing antisemitism and discrimination.

Written by B.C. Begley