Qantas flight attendant who made ‘divisive’ pro-Palestinian switch to uniform breaks silence
The Qantas flight attendant who wore a Palestinian flag badge during a flight has asked for help in the ‘fight’ against the person who reported her to the media.
Emma Ale, along with several other cabin crew members, wore the ‘divisive pins’ on a flight from Melbourne to Hobart on December 20.
A photo of Ms Ale wearing the Palestine badge, taken by a passenger, began circulating quickly on social media this week, forcing Qantas to respond.
Now the flight attendant has contacted Palestinian Christians in Australia to ask for “any help” to “fight against the person who reported me to the media.”
“I pray you watch this! I am a flight attendant who works for Qantas and a strong supporter of Free Palestine,” she wrote in a Facebook message to the group.
Emma Ale, along with several cabin crew members, wore the ‘divisive pins’ (pictured above her name tag) on a flight from Melbourne to Hobart on December 20
Now the flight attendant has contacted Palestinian Christians in Australia to ask for ‘any help’ to ‘fight against the person who reported me to the media’ (photo)
“My photo is being posted all over Sky News Australia because I wore a Palestinian pin while on duty. I need all the help I can get.
‘I still have to have a conversation with my company and where my work leads.
“However, if this is going to endanger my career, I need all the help I can get to fight the person who reported me to the media.”
Qantas is said to have spoken to Ms Ale after the photos began appearing online again on Wednesday and Thursday.
The airline has confirmed that staff members will only be allowed to wear flag badges if they speak the country’s national language.
“On a recent flight from Melbourne to Hobart, some of our cabin crew wore a Palestinian flag badge,” a Qantas spokesperson said in a statement.
‘Cabin crew are not permitted to wear badges unless they are part of the approved uniform, such as a name tag.
“Every customer should feel safe and respected when flying on a Qantas aircraft.”
The uproar came after a passenger, who is not Jewish, said they were “intimidated” by the pin and posted photos of Ms Ale wearing the badge.
“I saw a number of staff working for Qantas – they were all carrying Palestinian flags,” the passenger told Sky News.
“They say it’s not allowed, but Qantas has a history of doing this – they’ve done it time and time again.
Qantas said staff were “reminded” of the uniform policy in lieu of the incident
“It’s so disappointing to see a major Australian airline, which receives so much government funding, become so involved in politics time and time again.”
Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory branded the badges as “divisive” and said planes were no place for political activism.
“Political activism doesn’t belong in sport, it doesn’t belong in theatre, and it doesn’t belong on planes while Australians go on holiday. All Australians should feel safe when flying,” Gregory said.
“If employees are found to be using their roles for political activism while passengers are essentially trapped in the air, they should be fired.
“These incidents are not isolated and Qantas management must address the divisive political activism of their staff.”
Qantas said staff were “reminded” of the uniform policy in lieu of the incident.