American Airlines Receives Honor for Assisting Passenger to Rabbi’s Funeral After Sydney Attack

A Holocaust remembrance group honored American Airlines for arranging a passenger’s attendance at the funeral of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a victim of the Dec 15 2025 terrorist attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney. The traveler’s Miami-Los Angeles leg was delayed by about two hours, jeopardizing his connection to a United flight bound for Sydney. LAX control center manager Mohamad Najjar, customer-care manager Zak Rakrouki and operations director Radney Robertson decided to hold the airline’s LAX-Sydney flight, moved the inbound gate nearer, and escorted the passenger, Eli Rutman, to the international departure, covering the cost.

The Sydney leg departed only 46 minutes late. The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation presented American Airlines with its Medal of Valor at a New York dinner, citing “extraordinary compassion and moral leadership.” The airline’s response was portrayed as a rare example of customer-centric decision-making in commercial aviation.