14.07.2026 22:41
Sam Saadeh, a Palestinian-American traveling with United Airlines in the US, faced being removed from the plane due to his shirt reading 'Bombing children is not self-defense.' After a flight attendant found the shirt 'disturbing,' he was forced to change clothes and reported the airline to the US Department of Transportation. The incident sparked debate over the company's vague dress code policy.
Sam Saadeh, a Palestinian-American traveling with United Airlines in the US, faced being removed from the plane for wearing a shirt that read "Bombing children is not self-defense." After a flight attendant found the shirt "disturbing," the passenger was forced to change his clothing and filed a complaint with the US Department of Transportation.
"EITHER CHANGE IT OR YOU CAN'T BOARD THE PLANE"
The incident happened on June 4 to New Jersey resident Sam Saadeh, who boarded a flight from Atlanta to Newark Liberty International Airport. Saadeh said that just before takeoff, an airline official approached him, removed him from the plane, and demanded he change his shirt.
Unable to hide his shock at the treatment, Saadeh recounted the dialogue with the official:
"He told me, 'Look, the flight attendant found your shirt disturbing.' When I asked why, he replied, 'Here are your options: Either change your shirt or you can't board this plane.'"
WANTED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA
Saadeh, who is of Palestinian origin, said he wore the black shirt with white letters reading "Bombing children is not self-defense" to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
A United Nations (UN) report released in June found that more than 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli security forces since October 2023, a report rejected by the Israeli government. Saadeh argued that his shirt carried a universal humanitarian message rather than a political stance, saying, "No matter what nationality you are, this shirt very clearly states that bombing children is wrong."
NO RESOLUTION REACHED AT THE ARRIVAL AIRPORT
Although he felt humiliated, Saadeh agreed to change his shirt to avoid missing the flight. After arriving in Newark, he received no satisfactory response from airline representatives.
Describing his meeting with United Airlines officials in New Jersey, the passenger said the official kept telling him, "You can see how disturbing this shirt is; it's 2026," to which he responded, "Do you think children should not be bombed, or they should be? What exactly is disturbing you?"
VAGUE RULES IN THE COMPANY'S CONTRACT SPARK DEBATE
A United Airlines spokesperson, speaking to PEOPLE magazine about the issue, declined to provide details and only said, "The passenger flew as planned after changing his shirt."
United Airlines' official Contract of Carriage grants the company the right to refuse transport to passengers whose "clothing is obscene, indecent, or disturbing." However, the contract does not clearly define the limits of the term "disturbing" or specify what types of clothing fall under this category.
Stating that he will seek justice after the discrimination he experienced, Sam Saadeh said he has consulted with his lawyers and filed a formal complaint with the US Department of Transportation.