ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines is facing a lawsuit from a passenger who claims he was slapped by a flight attendant on a flight from Atlanta to Fresno.

Mohammad Shibli says he and his wife and their two children boarded the flight on July 29th. He was sitting with their four-year-old son, while his wife was sitting with their two-year-old son. They were in different rows. He says the flight was delayed about 20 minutes and his two-year-old son was crying over wanting water. His wife waited until the plane took off and then asked a Delta flight attendant for water for the boy. Shibli went on to explain how she texted him what happened so he got up and asked the same flight attendant for water for his son. He was also told no and he described her response as having a disrespectful tone. He then asked a different flight attendant, who gave him water and apologized for the other employee’s actions. Despite the apology, the situation escalated.

He says moments later the same flight attendant who refused him the water asked if he wanted anything to drink during the food and beverage service.

“I made it very clear I didn’t want anything from her, she insisted and kept leaning toward 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.”

Shibli says he then asked her “for what?” But he says she did not answer. He says she continued the food and beverage service, but as she walked back and forth “she bumped into me with her body. I tried to ignore it, but the passenger in my row, whom I had never met before, could tell that the Delta attendant was provoking me.”

He claims the flight attendant then leaned closer to his ear whispered a very vulgar word to him. “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 toward me and struck me with an open palm.”

Shibli says he pleaded to other flight attendants that he was assaulted. He says she continued to serve other passengers and acted like nothing happened. He says other attendants then came over and acknowledged him and told her to sit in the back of the plane until we landed.

“I was trapped on that plane for almost four hours. It was painful and embarrassing. As a father, I looked helpless in front of my son. As a husband, I was humiliated. And as a passenger, I feared for the safety and security for myself and for my family.”

His lawyer, Ali Awad, claimed the incident was triggered by Shibli’s wife’s shirt, which had the word “Palestine” on it. After detailing several alleged prior incidents involving Delta employees, Awad told reporters at the news conference the incident in July reflected a pattern of discrimination and violence.

“Nobody should ever experience physical abuse like this, especially on a plane mid-air,” Shibli said.

In addition to compensation, Shibli, a Palestinian Muslim, through his attorney is asking for every Delta employee to receive education and sensitivity training on Palestine.

“Delta ruined my client’s day, and Delta, we demand a day of your profits,” Awad said.

Delta released a statement after Tuesday’s news conference. “As the safety and security of our customers and employees comes before all else, Delta launched an immediate internal investigation into this incident. While Delta does not comment on internal investigations or pending litigation, we are taking this situation very seriously. This flight attendant has been suspended while the investigation is ongoing.”