A Delta flight on the eve of Thanksgiving was interrupted by a racist speech at 30,000 feet above sea level.

Atlanta police told USA TODAY that 37-year-old passenger David Toaff had chanted words his fellow travelers had interpreted as anti-Semitic during a flight from Washington DC to Atlanta.

"Preliminary information indicates that in flight … a man was shouting, asking Jews aboard to identify and commenting on the bombings perpetrated against passengers on board the aircraft" , said agent Lisa Bender.

The authorities were waiting for Toaff at the boarding gate when the plane landed Wednesday night at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. "Local law enforcement officials met with Flight 1822 (DCA-ATL) in Atlanta due to the behavior of their customers on board the flight," confirmed Delta Air Lines spokesman Adrian Gee in a statement. a press release sent to USA TODAY.

The authorities said that Toaff had refused to calm down despite requests from the officer. He was finally arrested after "continuing the unrest" and objecting to his arrest.

"The man was arrested and charged with obstruction and disorderly behavior and was transported to Clayton County Jail," Bender added.

Another passenger, Jordan Dale, recorded Toaff's meeting with Atlanta police after his landing.

In a video posted on Dale's Twitter account, Toaff told police that he was "not a bad person" and asked, "What did I do? poorly done?" He then tried to escape from several officers.

An off-screen person may be heard calling Toaff a "Nazi" during the incident.

"Today, a man in my plane launched an anti-Semitic tirade and asked" all Jews to raise their hands "so that he could" identify them "," tweeted Dale next to the video. "Later, when he was arrested, he protested."

Related: 11 years old have almost boarded the plane Delta Airport Atlanta without boarding card

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