Washington, USA | September 16, 2025
Major American carriers — Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines — have suspended several employees for making controversial social media posts following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week.
The airlines confirmed on Monday that disciplinary actions were taken against staff whose online comments appeared to celebrate or trivialize the killing, which has sparked widespread public outrage and intensified debates around workplace ethics and free speech.
American Airlines, in a statement, said some of its employees were “removed from service pending investigations” after posts that allegedly promoted violence circulated on social platforms. “We have zero tolerance for conduct that undermines respect, dignity, and public trust,” the airline stated.
Delta Air Lines also disclosed that certain employees’ posts “went well beyond healthy, respectful debate” and breached its social media policies. United Airlines, meanwhile, stressed it would not condone “any attempt to justify politically motivated violence.”
The suspensions came amid mounting calls for accountability after screenshots of the posts were shared widely online. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned the behavior, urging companies to publicly dissociate from what he described as “unacceptable attempts to normalize violence.”
While the exact number and identities of the suspended workers have not been disclosed, industry
