DALLAS
– A lawsuit alleges that a Muslim pilot was “suspended” and later fired by
NetJets without explanation.

According
to the lawsuit, after seven years of exemplary service, pilot Ameer Siddiqui
was suspended and later fired because an unidentified employee allegedly viewed
him as a “security concern.”

Siddiqui,
54, started working as a pilot for NetJets, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway,
in 2006, flying passengers through West Palm Beach and Miami airports.

On
September 7, 2013, an official at NetJets called Siddiqui to the company’s
headquarters in Ohio without explanation.  

When
he arrived the next day, his identification card was deactivated, and security
refused to allow him on the property. 

On
September 8, 2013, Siddiqui’s supervisors informed him that the company has
“security concerns” about him and that he was no longer allowed on
company property. He was asked to return his security card, key and mobile
device. Siddiqui called NetJets’ Chief Pilot to get an explanation, but only
learned that the company’s actions were based on political comments Siddiqui
allegedly made. 

Without
further explanation, Siddiqui, who had been recently recognized by the Federal
Aviation Administration for exemplary performance, was placed on indefinite
administrative leave. 

On
December 5, 2013, an FBI agent contacted Siddiqui with regard to a report
received about him. Siddiqui agreed to meet with FBI agents in Miami to answer
questions related to the report. During the voluntary interview, the FBI agents
told Siddiqui that NetJets’ head of security reported Siddiqui to the
FBI. 

After
the interview, the FBI concluded that Siddiqui was not a security concern.
Siddiqui received a letter from the FBI on February 24, 2014, confirming there
was no relevant open investigation into him. 

Despite
the FBI closing its inquiry, NetJets did not take Siddiqui off administrative
leave or provide him with an opportunity to address any specific allegations
against him.

After
waiting nearly a year to be taken off administration leave, Siddiqui made an
internal complaint of discrimination. 

On
April 1, 2015, Siddiqui met with NetJets officials for the first time, along
with his union representative, to discuss his placement on administrative
leave.

During
this meeting, NetJets officials questioned Siddiqui about allegations that he
made comments about Jews, the 9-11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. military and
personal beliefs related to his Muslim background.

Company
officials never told Siddiqui what, exactly, he was alleged to have said.

Later
that month, Siddiqui filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission. NetJets filed a response to the EEOC, claiming that
Siddiqui was placed on administrative leave because of “Anti-Semitic,
Anti-American” statements that unnamed employees allege Siddiqui made
years before. 

According
to attorneys representing Siddiqui, NetJets never alleged during the EEOC
investigation or at any other time that the pilot ever “threatened to
engage in any terrorist activity against anyone.” 

Attorneys
at Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, a nonprofit law center
representing Siddiqui, said that the amended lawsuit filed yesterday adds
retaliation and the termination to the charges because NetJets fired Siddiqui
so soon after the EEOC investigation was dismissed. 

“NetJets’
unlawful and malicious actions toward Mr. Siddiqui have caused him tremendous
hardships,” said Christina Jump, Senior Staff Attorney at CLCMA.
“He’s lost flight experience, income, his qualifications expired, and he
has suffered emotionally as a result of how unfairly NetJets treated him.”

Jump
also said that Siddiqui was never given a chance by NetJets to defend himself
against any specific allegations the company used as its reason for suspending
him.