Historic Palestinian symbol on pin prompts probe by Air Canada

TORONTO, Canada (MNTV) – Air Canada opened an investigation after a passenger objected to a flight attendant wearing a pin shaped like historic Palestine and colored with the Palestinian flag, featuring the Al-Aqsa Mosque—an emblem widely associated with Palestinian heritage.

The incident occurred on a Toronto–Atlanta flight, where a passenger filed a formal complaint claiming the pin was a “political statement.”

Photos shared online ignited debate over whether airline staff should be allowed to wear cultural or political symbols.

According to Travel and Tour World, the complaint comes amid broader discussions over neutrality policies across major carriers.

Some airlines, particularly in the United States, have faced similar disputes as workers increasingly wear Palestinian symbols such as flag pins or watermelon icons to express solidarity amid Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza.

Air Canada said it is reviewing the matter in line with its uniform policy. “We have a policy for uniform staff that covers which pins and symbols are permissible,” a spokesperson said, noting the company maintains a limited list of approved items.

Experts say objections to such symbols reflect a growing trend of suppressing Palestinian cultural expression, even when displayed peacefully. Supporters online argued the pin targeted no one and simply represented a long-standing cultural emblem for millions of Palestinians.

Advocates for free expression say such restrictions disproportionately affect those showing solidarity with Palestinians, especially after nearly two years of Israeli attacks on Gaza that have killed almost 70,000 people—mostly women and children—and injured 171,000 others.