CHARLOTTE, NC – Muhammad Zaghloul and Masudar Rahman arrive in Charlotte after what they’re calling a “Rosa Parks” experience.
“The supervisor, Mr. Russell said, 'Mr. Rahman and Mr. Mohammad, unfortunately pilot is not allowing you to go to the plane,’” says Masudar Rahman.
The two men had already boarded a Delta flight from Memphis around 8:30 Friday morning, when they were asked to come back for another screening.
“They were still very cooperative, complied with all the requests and yet were denied the right to come back on the plane after they were cleared to go yet again,” says their attorney, Mo Idlibi.
They were told it was the pilot’s decision.
“When asked why the pilot did not allow them back on the plane, the pilot said that some of the passengers didn't feel comfortable,” Idlibi says.
Their attorney says passengers were then questioned, but none raised concerns, even Delta supervisors couldn’t get the pilot to change his mind.
“He urged the pilot to allow us to go, he said, he's not giving any reason, he's stubborn and he's not listening to me,” Rahman says.
They were booked on another Delta flight from Memphis, which landed at Charlotte-Douglas around 7pm Friday night.They were coming from to Charlotte for a conference where they planned to speak on Islamophobia.
Their attorney says they are looking into legal action, and waiting to find out more about why the pilot felt they were a potential threat.
