Middle Eastern wife of former FBI agent claims she was 'accused of a terrorist attack'  

A Middle Eastern wife of a former FBI agent claimed she was locked in an American Airlines bathroom with her three-year-old and accused of terrorism. 

Yazz Giraldo, 36; her husband Ali Moghaddam, 44; and their two young children were flying on an American Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale to New York in September for a wedding when the mother claims she was discriminated against. 

She had tried to take her infant daughter to the first-class bathroom but an unidentified flight attendant told her she was not allowed to despite 'everybody else using it,' her lawsuit, viewed by the New York Post, said. 

She then took her daughter to the rear of the plane to where her husband was sitting separately. While changing her daughter's diaper, a second flight attendant told her there was no rule against her using the first-class bathroom closest to her seat. But when she later attempted to she claims she was locked in. 

American Airlines has said it is reviewing the lawsuit and strives to 'provide a positive and welcoming experience to everyone.'  

Yazz Giraldo, 36 (pictured); her husband Ali Moghaddam, 44; and their two young children were flying on an American Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale to New York in September for a wedding when the mother claims she was discriminated against by a first-class flight attendant

Both their children needed to use the restroom and when she attempted to take her infant daughter to the first-class bathroom, a flight attendant told her she wasn't allowed to. After she changed her daughter in the rear of the plane, another crew member told her otherwise and the took her three-year-old son to the front bathroom 

After she ignored the flight attendant again, she claimed the attendant locked her in the bathroom and left her crying. Once she was released, a supervisor reported told her the 'pilot decided to put the plane under terrorist attack warning because of you'

After the first incident, when her three-year-old son needed to relieve himself, she had opted to take him to the first-class restroom.

But she was once again stopped by the flight attendant - even though her son 'was holding himself, he was about to lose it,' she said. 

Despite the flight attendant's attempts to block her, the mother-of-two still took her son into the bathroom. 

'I closed the door, when I’m inside the bathroom I start hearing the noise: "Tick, tick, tick," [of the door locking],' she said. 

'I freaked out. I was already under so much stress,' she said. 'I started to panic, I banged on the door a few times and I said: "Let me out of here."

'She was punishing me for challenging her.' 

The former TV host lost track of time in the bathroom as she was overwhelmed, 'shaking,' and crying until she was released. 

American Airlines has said it is reviewing the lawsuit and strives to 'provide a positive and welcoming experience to everyone'

'I was humiliated,' she said. 

After being released, a supervisor approached her and claimed the 'pilot decided to put the plane under terrorist attack warning because of you.' When she tried to explain what happened, she said the supervisor screamed at her. 

'I immediately knew it was racism. I immediately knew I was being discriminated against,' she said. 

While all of this was happening, her husband - who served six years in the FBI - was unaware and didn't know the incident occurred until the family was escorted off the plane in New York. 

Moghaddam requested they be taken to the FBI substation. After authorities learned he had a law enforcement background, the family was released 15 minutes later.  

Her husband, who served six years in the FBI, said he was angered they would accusing his family of terrorism and that the word 'word terrorism is unique, especially considering all my sacrifices… you don’t throw that around' 

'I dedicated about a decade of my life to public service, to protect the community. Joint Terrorism Task Force, undercover, S.W.A.T., all of this … for my family to be labeled as terrorist and be marched off a plane just because we want to change a diaper?' he told the New York Post.  

'For me, there’s certain terms that have a history and connotation that is very negative,' he continued. 'that word terrorism is unique, especially considering all my sacrifices… you don’t throw that around.' 

Since the flight, Giraldo has started going to therapy, her lawyer Jitesh Dudani told the Post -adding that the family, who were once frequent flyers, are now fearful.