A Delta Air Lines passengers has claimed he was slapped by a flight attendant after requesting a glass of water for his son.
Mohammad Shibli held a press conference on Tuesday with his legal representatives to announce their intention to sue the company for as much as $20 million (£14.8million).
The alleged assault took place on a Delta flight from Atlanta, Georgia to Fresno, California on July 29.
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The alleged assault took place on a Delta flight from Atlanta, Georgia to Fresno, California on July 29
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Mr Shibli had been travelling with his wife and two young sons when he claimed the unnamed female air hostess slapped him with such force, the strike could be heard through noise-cancelling headphones.
The passenger claimed the incident occurred after the flight had been delayed for around 20 minutes and his two-year-old son began to cry, wanting a glass of water.
He claimed after his wife tried to ask the flight attendant for water and was denied, he tried to do the same and was "again refused using a very disrespectful tone".
Mr Shibli then accused the flight attendant of acting in an aggressive manner when she was carrying out the drink service and reached his family's row.
Mr Shibli had been travelling with his wife and two young sons when he claimed the unnamed female air hostess slapped him
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Mr Shibli said: "I made it very clear I didn't want anything from her. She insisted and kept leaning towards me. So, I asked her to leave me alone.
"'She then asked if I wanted the police to meet me at the gate, insinuating that she was going to have me arrested.
"As she walked back and forth to serve other passengers, she bumped into me with her body.
"The Delta flight attendant then leaned closer to my ear and whispered a very vulgar word to me.
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"I was shocked and couldn't believe a Delta employee would say such a disgusting word to me, let alone in front of my son."
"As she walked away, I stood up and verbally responded with a few bad words.
"It was at that time the Delta attendant took a few steps towards me and struck me with an open palm as hard as she could."
The incident had left him "embarrassed" and "humiliated", Mr Shibli claimed.
Ali Awad, Mr Shibli's lawyer, mentioned during the press conference that his client's wife had been wearing a shirt which mentioned Palestine and questioned if this "is this a single isolated incident or is it a pattern of clear discrimination against Palestinians".
As part of the lawsuit set to be filed later this week, Mr Shibli's legal team are demanding mandatory education and sensitivity training to all Delta employees about Palestine.
A spokesman for Delta Air Lines said: "As the safety and security of our customers and employees comes before all else, Delta launched an immediate internal investigation into this incident.
"This flight attendant has been suspended while the investigation is ongoing."