Luton Airport has issued a formal written apology to Israeli author Alon Penzel, after an incident when he was abused by airport security. Luton Airport has also confirmed that enhanced staff training  has been implemented to strengthen its standards of professionalism, equality and respect for all passengers.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI)  and Daniel Berke of 3D Solicitors assisted Alon Penzel in his claim against Luton Airport.

Mr Penzel, an Israeli citizen and author of “Testimonies Without Boundaries: Israel October 7 2023”, had travelled to the United Kingdom to speak about his book at a House of Lords event during the week of 11 November 2024. He was scheduled to return to Tel Aviv on an El Al flight from Luton Airport on 18 November 2024.

After checking in and passing through security, Mr Penzel was stopped by a security officer while carrying a placard promoting his book and wearing a sweatshirt bearing the words “End Jew Hatred”.  The sign had been too big to fit into his suitcase, so he was carrying it facing his body, so it would be difficult to read the sign.

Mr Penzel reported that the security officer told him that the sign was “political” and made derogatory comments referring to events of 7 October 2023 and the history of Israel, accusing Israel of an “illegal occupation since 1948”.

Mr Penzel was subsequently accused of protesting, despite his explanation that the sign was a prop for his book promotion which he was merely transporting through the airport.  He was then detained at the departure gate area by several security guards and policemen.  His passport was taken and retained for a period, and he was required to wait in a restricted area while CCTV footage was reviewed.

Mr Penzel felt he had been falsely imprisoned by the security guards and police, and that he had suffered discriminatory treatment on the grounds that he was Israeli and Jewish.

In its formal apology to Mr Penzel, London Luton Airport stated:

“We are writing in relation to the incident you reported that occurred on 18 November 2024 to offer our sincere and unreserved apology for your experience at London Luton Airport.

The safety and security of the airport is our highest priority, and we are required to uphold strict safety and security standards at all times. However, we fully acknowledge that your experience fell below the customer service standards we expect and strive to uphold.

Following your complaint, we have introduced enhanced training for our staff to reinforce our commitment to ensuring that every passenger is treated with fairness, courtesy, and respect.

We also provide our clear and unequivocal assurance to our Jewish and Israeli passengers — and to you personally — that you are always welcome at London Luton Airport. Discrimination of any kind has no place in our organisation.”

UKLFI were also informed that the security guard who had originally stopped Mr Penzel no longer works at Luton Airport.

Mr Penzel said: “I travelled to the United Kingdom to speak about the victims and survivors of the 7 October 2023 atrocity. To then be stopped, questioned and detained while wearing a sweatshirt saying ‘End Jew Hatred’ was shocking and upsetting. I welcome the apology and the clear assurance that Jewish and Israeli passengers are welcome at London Luton Airport. I hope that what happened to me will lead to greater awareness and sensitivity going forward.”

A spokesperson for UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) commented: “No passenger should ever be detained or questioned because of their nationality, religion or the peaceful expression of their identity. We welcome the airport’s apology and its commitment to improved training. This case highlights the importance of ensuring that security powers are exercised lawfully and without discrimination.”

Daniel Berke,  of 3D Solicitors, who acted for Mr Penzel, commented: “Our client was subjected to a prolonged and unjustified detention in circumstances that were deeply distressing and publicly humiliating. The apology issued by London Luton Airport is an important acknowledgment that the standards expected of airport security staff were not met on this occasion. We hope the enhanced training measures will prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”