MissedApproach
Well-Known Member
Graduate Sues Mesa Air Group for Religious and
National Origin Discrimination
Phoenix, Arizona - An Iranian American graduate of
Mesa Air Group partner San Juan College filed a suit
with the U.S. District Court for the District of
Arizona on Monday, November 17, 2003 alleging
religious, national origin, and ancestry
discrimination.
Frank Nickman began First Officer training in Mesa Air
Group's two-year Aviation Degree Program at San Juan
College/Mesa Airlines Professional Pilot Development
in January 2001. He was the only student of Iranian
national origin and the only Muslim at the school.
Although Mr. Nickman graduated at the top of his class
and maintained constant honor roll status, Mesa Air
Group failed to hire him despite their own record of
hiring ninety-eight percent of graduates from this
program.
In the suit, Mr. Nickman alleges he was subject to
discrimination and racial remarks by Mesa Air Group
employees even prior to the events of September 11th.
Such remarks included: "Go back to wherever the heck
you came from," "You should be glad we let you live in
this country," and "Financial aid is for Americans
first and foreign nationals second." His complaints
were met with tactics of intimidation and retaliation.
Following the attacks, the suit claims statements and
actions of discrimination intensified, despite
complaints to upper management, to include: "What cave
have you been hiding in?" "If you don't get hired by
Mesa, you can always train to be a terrorist," "The
Osama Bin Laden Scholarship Fund is paying for your
training," and a nickname was given to Mr. Nickman of
"terrorist in training." In addition, Mr. Nickman was
asked by instructors in front of other student whether
he had been interviewed by the FBI yet, what his
"real" name was, where he was "really" from, and
whether he was a practicing Muslim.
Mr. Nickman has suffered significant economic losses.
In addition giving up a job to participate in the
program, Mr. Nickman spent $50,000 on tuition and more
of his own money traveling to Arizona from California
for several emotionally distressing and unfruitful
interviews. Mesa Air Group's refusal to hire him
caused Mr. Nickman to also lose his First Officer
salary. As the flight time requirement for Mesa Air
Group graduates of the Aviation Degree Program is less
than industry norms, Mr. Nickman is unable to seek
similar positions with other airlines and is,
therefore, deprived of his First Officer salary (and
the subsequent Captain salary) for the foreseeable
future.
------
Questions may be directed to Deedra Abboud with
CAIR-AZ at 602-262-CAIR (2247)
-----------------------------------
Pretty disgusting if this is true.
I have heard from people that knew him that he just didn't make the cut and was poorly prepared for the interview.
National Origin Discrimination
Phoenix, Arizona - An Iranian American graduate of
Mesa Air Group partner San Juan College filed a suit
with the U.S. District Court for the District of
Arizona on Monday, November 17, 2003 alleging
religious, national origin, and ancestry
discrimination.
Frank Nickman began First Officer training in Mesa Air
Group's two-year Aviation Degree Program at San Juan
College/Mesa Airlines Professional Pilot Development
in January 2001. He was the only student of Iranian
national origin and the only Muslim at the school.
Although Mr. Nickman graduated at the top of his class
and maintained constant honor roll status, Mesa Air
Group failed to hire him despite their own record of
hiring ninety-eight percent of graduates from this
program.
In the suit, Mr. Nickman alleges he was subject to
discrimination and racial remarks by Mesa Air Group
employees even prior to the events of September 11th.
Such remarks included: "Go back to wherever the heck
you came from," "You should be glad we let you live in
this country," and "Financial aid is for Americans
first and foreign nationals second." His complaints
were met with tactics of intimidation and retaliation.
Following the attacks, the suit claims statements and
actions of discrimination intensified, despite
complaints to upper management, to include: "What cave
have you been hiding in?" "If you don't get hired by
Mesa, you can always train to be a terrorist," "The
Osama Bin Laden Scholarship Fund is paying for your
training," and a nickname was given to Mr. Nickman of
"terrorist in training." In addition, Mr. Nickman was
asked by instructors in front of other student whether
he had been interviewed by the FBI yet, what his
"real" name was, where he was "really" from, and
whether he was a practicing Muslim.
Mr. Nickman has suffered significant economic losses.
In addition giving up a job to participate in the
program, Mr. Nickman spent $50,000 on tuition and more
of his own money traveling to Arizona from California
for several emotionally distressing and unfruitful
interviews. Mesa Air Group's refusal to hire him
caused Mr. Nickman to also lose his First Officer
salary. As the flight time requirement for Mesa Air
Group graduates of the Aviation Degree Program is less
than industry norms, Mr. Nickman is unable to seek
similar positions with other airlines and is,
therefore, deprived of his First Officer salary (and
the subsequent Captain salary) for the foreseeable
future.
------
Questions may be directed to Deedra Abboud with
CAIR-AZ at 602-262-CAIR (2247)
-----------------------------------
Pretty disgusting if this is true.
I have heard from people that knew him that he just didn't make the cut and was poorly prepared for the interview.