“Free Palestine” message on kosher meals spark outrage on Iberia flight

Iberia Airlines has launched an internal investigation after a Jewish passenger on flight IB102 from Buenos Aires to Madrid received a kosher meal labeled with the handwritten phrase “Free Palestine,” according to Argentina’s umbrella Jewish organization DAIA.

The incident was reported by Salvador Auday, who told the airline’s crew that several other unopened kosher meals on the flight also bore the initials “FP,” which appeared to have been written with the same pen. The flight’s final destination was reportedly in "Israel".

Auday said he immediately alerted the head flight attendant, who documented the incident and offered apologies. "They tried to apologize in every possible way," he told Vis á Vis, an Argentinian Jewish newspaper. He speculated that an employee may have written the message of a catering supplier rather than an Iberia crew member.

“Apparently, it wasn’t any of the crew members, so if it came from outside, I’d imagine that Iberia will conduct an internal investigation of its suppliers and procedures. That’s precisely why I reported it, so that it doesn’t get forgotten,” Auday said.

In a statement released Tuesday, Iberia confirmed that passengers had reported “handwritten pro-Palestinian messages” on their meal packaging. The airline emphasized that its crew responded to the complaints, and the captain personally apologized to the affected passengers.

Iberia stated that it is now working closely with its catering providers to determine how the messages were added. The airline also stressed that it “categorically rejects any form of discrimination, incitement to hatred, or behavior that undermines the dignity of individuals.”