A Ryanair employee wearing a Black Power Fist badge in the colours of the Palestine Flag is alleged to have insulted a passenger who queried the badge and threatened to throw him off his flight. UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to Ryanair querying the airline’s dress code and raising concerns about the behaviour of its staff member.

The incident took place at around 8am on Saturday 21 February at the airline’s helpdesk in Stansted Airport. According to the complaint relayed to UKLFI, a Ryanair employee was wearing a badge depicting a raised fist wrapped in a Palestinian flag. Such imagery is widely associated with the “Free Palestine” movement and, in some contexts, has been linked to calls for resistance and intifada.

The passenger told UKLFI that he found the badge “offensive and deeply inappropriate.” He further stated that he regarded it as “synonymous with support for the intifada and also a symbol likely to indicate anti-Semitic sentiment”.

The staff member allegedly accused the passenger of being “racist” and “disgusting,” and threatened to cancel his ticket.

In its letter, UKLFI set out concerns under the Equality Act 2010, specifically section 29(3), which prohibits service providers from harassing persons requiring their services. The Act defines harassment as unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment

UKLFI argues that if airline staff wear political symbols that could reasonably be perceived as hostile or intimidating to Jewish, Israeli or Zionist passengers, this may create a potentially unlawful environment under the Act.

The letter states that “staff wearing such a badge signifying violent opposition to the State of Israel are likely to intimidate Jewish, Israeli or Israel supporters, as well as other members of the public”.

UKLFI has asked Ryanair to investigate how the staff member was permitted to wear the badge while on duty, confirm whether its dress code will be reviewed to prohibit political paraphernalia at work, and investigate the reported altercation and alleged threats made to the passenger.

This incident highlights the growing tensions around political symbolism in public-facing workplaces. Airlines and other service providers operate in diverse environments, serving passengers of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. The wearing of political insignia by staff can create tensions and divisions between the service provider and the public, and create an atmosphere that is hostile and offensive.

A spokesperson for UK Lawyers for Israel said:

“Airline passengers are entitled to receive services in a professional and politically neutral environment. When staff wear highly charged political symbols — particularly those that can reasonably be interpreted as hostile towards Jewish or Israeli passengers — it risks creating an intimidating and offensive atmosphere. Our concern is not with anyone’s private political beliefs, but with ensuring that service providers comply with their legal obligations under the Equality Act and treat all passengers with dignity and respect.”