Pan Am’s Ban on Iraqis May Break Law, New York Says

The reported barring of Iraqi nationals from Pam Am flights may violate a New York civil rights law, and the airline’s president has been subpoenaed to testify about the policy, the New York City Human Rights Commission said.

City law prohibits discrimination against people based on their citizenship and national origin, commission spokesman Lonnie Soury said Sunday.

The commission has subpoenaed the president of Pan American World Airways, Thomas Plaskett, to explain the policy, Soury said. The subpoena, issued last Friday, asks Plaskett to appear Thursday before the commission.

Soury said a copy of the written policy he received from Pan Am states:

“In its continuing review of security procedures implemented as a result of the Gulf War, Pan Am has decided to decline acceptance of passengers carrying passports issued by Iraq. This decision was made as a result of the conflict between the U.S. and Iraq and in particular, in response to Iraqi threats to engage in terrorism worldwide.”

Pan Am spokesman Jeff Kreindler said the airline will not comment on the subpoena and will not say if such a policy is in effect.