Haredim set up partitions on El Al flight

"The flight staff said that this occasionally occurs," a passenger said.

A group of haredi (ultra-orthodox) passengers set up partitions during an El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL) flight from Belgium to Israel, which blocked some TV screens, and according to some of the passengers, emergency exit signs, Channel 2 reports. "The flight staff said this occurs from time to time, and they don’t do anything about it except for moving passengers if they are bothered by this," a passenger on the flight said.

Are women now being treated as second-class citizens on airplanes too? During a flight from Brussels to Tel Aviv, a group of haredi passengers took out fold-up cartons and spread them out on the seats where they were sitting to separate them from other passengers. The flight attendants did not say anything to them, and the makeshift partitions remained in place until landing. "This is not the first time this has occurred," a passenger on the flight said.

"It prevented some of the passengers from being able to see the TV screens, and as a result they were unable to enjoy the on-flight entertainment. It blocked their view for the length of the plane, including the signs directing passengers to the emergency exits," the passenger said. "This could be a safety hazard."

According to the passengers, the flight staff said that this is not a new phenomenon. "The staff completely ignored it. When I asked the stewardesses about it, they said that it occasionally occurs and they just ignore it. As long as no one complains to the haredi passengers, they do not do anything. And if passengers complain, the stewardesses make an effort to move them to another seat so that they can watch the movie."

In response, El Al said, "This is an unusual event, and is not in accordance with company flight service procedure. We would like to emphasize that flight safety was not compromised. The incident will be reviewed by El Al."