Mostafa Ezzo: Air Canada pilot suspended for posting anti-Semitic messages on Instagram

Air Canada, the flag carrier and largest airline in Canada has taken swift and decisive action against one of its pilots, Mostafa Ezzo, who allegedly posted hateful and offensive messages about Israel and Jews on his social media accounts. The pilot, who is based in Montreal, was suspended from flying on Monday, October 9, 2023, after his posts sparked outrage and condemnation from various groups and individuals.

What did Mostafa Ezzo post on social media?

According to screenshots shared by the group StopAntiSemitism.org on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mostafa Ezzo used his Instagram account to express his support for Palestine and his hatred for Israel in the wake of the recent Hamas attacks on the Jewish state. The attacks, which started on Saturday, October 8, 2023, have killed at least 1,900 people and injured thousands more on both sides, according to The Associated Press.

Some of the posts that Ezzo allegedly made include:

• A photo of him wearing an Air Canada cap and a Palestinian keffiyeh (a traditional scarf) over his uniform, holding a sign that read “Isr*el Hitler is proud of you – terrorist state”.
• A photo of him holding another sign that showed an Israeli flag being dumped into a trash can with the message “Keep the world clean”.
• A post that promoted a pro-Palestinian rally in Montreal on Sunday, October 9, 2023, with the caption “F*** you Israel. Burn in hell”.
• A post called Israel a “terrorist state” and commented, “Hitler is proud of you”.

The screenshots also showed that Ezzo had a large following on Instagram, with over 15,000 followers. His account has since been deleted or made private.

How did Air Canada react to Mostafa Ezzo’s posts?

Air Canada was made aware of Mostafa Ezzo’s posts by concerned users who tagged the airline on X. The airline issued a statement on X on Monday, October 10, 2023, saying:

We are aware of the unacceptable posts made by an Air Canada pilot. We are taking this matter very seriously, and he was suspended from flying on Mon, Oct. 9. We firmly denounce violence in all forms.

Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick also told The Toronto Sun that the pilot’s opinions and publications on social media do not represent Air Canada’s views in any way. He said that the pilot has never been authorized to speak publicly while identifying himself as an Air Canada employee.

Fitzpatrick added that the pilot was suspended from flying pending an investigation. He did not specify what disciplinary actions or sanctions the pilot may face.

Air Canada has also temporarily suspended its flight routes to Tel Aviv as a result of the Hamas attacks. It is unclear if Mostafa Ezzo had ever been assigned to fly to Israel or other destinations in the Middle East.

What did other groups and individuals say about Mostafa Ezzo’s posts?

Ezzo’s posts have drawn widespread criticism and condemnation from various groups and individuals who denounced his antisemitic and inflammatory remarks.

The group StopAntiSemitism.org, which exposed Ezzo’s posts, said that they were “shocked and appalled” by his actions. They said that they contacted Air Canada and demanded that they fire him immediately.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada, also expressed their outrage and thanked Air Canada for their swift response. They said that they expect Air Canada to take further steps to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC), a human rights organization that fights antisemitism and racism, also applauded Air Canada for taking action against Ezzo. They said that his posts were “disgusting” and “dangerous” and that they hoped he would be held accountable for his actions.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union representing Air Canada pilots, said that they were aware of the situation and that they were “incredibly saddened by the tragedies in the Middle East”. They condemned all violence and hatred and any promotion thereof. They also said that it was their firm expectation that all of their members abide by their professional code of ethics.

Many users on social media also expressed their shock, anger, and disappointment at Ezzo’s posts. Some said that they would boycott Air Canada until he was fired. Others said that they felt unsafe flying with Air Canada knowing that one of their pilots harbored such hateful views. Some also questioned how he passed the security clearance and background checks required for his job.

Who is Mostafa Ezzo?

Mostafa is a regional jet pilot based in Montreal. He is a first officer on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a long-haul aircraft that can fly to various destinations around the world.

According to his LinkedIn profile, which has also been deleted or made private, he has been working for Air Canada since 2019. He previously worked for Jazz Aviation, a regional airline that operates flights for Air Canada Express, from 2016 to 2019. He also worked as a flight instructor at the Moncton Flight College in New Brunswick from 2014 to 2016.

He graduated from the Moncton Flight College in 2014 with a diploma in aviation management. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, which he obtained in 2012.

Mostafa Ezzo is originally from Egypt and has dual citizenship in Canada and Egypt. He speaks English, French, and Arabic fluently.

He is also a friend of Mohamed Mamdouh, the co-pilot of the EgyptAir flight MS804 that crashed into the Mediterranean Sea in 2016, killing all 66 people on board. Ezzo told CBC News in 2016 that he and Mamdouh were classmates at the Moncton Flight College and that they kept in touch after graduating. He said that he was devastated by the news of his friend’s death and that he hoped to find out what happened to the plane.

Summary

• Mostafa Ezzo is an Air Canada pilot who allegedly posted antisemitic and hateful messages about Israel and Jews on his social media accounts.
• Air Canada suspended him from flying and launched an investigation after his posts were exposed by the group StopAntiSemitism.org.
• His posts sparked outrage and condemnation from various groups and individuals who denounced his actions and demanded his dismissal.
• He is a regional jet pilot based in Montreal who has been working for Air Canada since 2019. He is originally from Egypt and has dual citizenship of Canada and Egypt. He is also a friend of the co-pilot of the EgyptAir flight MS804 that crashed in 2016.

• Air Canada has temporarily suspended its flight routes to Tel Aviv as a result of the Hamas attacks.
• The Hamas attacks have killed at least 1,900 people and injured thousands more on both sides, according to The Associated Press.

Conclusion

Mostafa Ezzo’s case is an example of how social media can be used to spread hate and incite violence, especially in times of conflict and crisis. His posts not only violated Air Canada’s code of ethics and values, but also the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, which prohibit the promotion of hatred and discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin. His posts also endangered the safety and reputation of Air Canada and its passengers, who expect their pilots to be professional and respectful. Air Canada has shown that it does not tolerate such behavior and that it will take appropriate measures to address it. Ezzo’s future as a pilot remains uncertain, as he faces possible legal and professional consequences for his actions.