A lawsuit has been filed against JetBlue Airways Corporation, accusing the airline of racial and religious discrimination. Plaintiffs Brucha Ungar, Miriam Lunger, and Abraham Lunger allege that they were subjected to discriminatory treatment due to their Jewish faith and race during a flight from California to New York.
According to court documents, on December 31, 2023, the plaintiffs were scheduled to fly from Palm Springs International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport. According to the complaint, Abraham Lunger requested a seat change because his religious beliefs prohibit him from sitting next to a woman who is not a blood relative or his wife. Although another passenger agreed to switch seats, a flight attendant identified as Jane Doe allegedly denied the request and involved the pilot, identified as John Doe.
The plaintiffs state that they were removed from the flight without any safety concerns cited by JetBlue staff. They assert that other passengers who switched seats were not penalized and claim the removal was based on their Orthodox Jewish attire and identity.
Ungar and the Lungers allege violations of Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act. They seek declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees.
The plaintiff is represented by attorneys Evan Brustein of Brustein Law PLLC and Maya Risman of Risman & Risman P.C. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID 25-CV-6189.