Muslim family left shocked after they were asked to leave flight for unexplained 'security reasons'
A Muslim family was left shocked after they were asked to leave a plane for ‘security reasons’.
Eaman-Amy Saad Shebley was flying with her husband and three children from Chicago to Washington DC with United Airlines, when both an airhostess and the pilot requested they ‘step off’.
The family claims they were targeted because of ‘how they look’.
Shebley took to Facebook to vent her frustration: “United is kicking me and my kids off the plane! For no reason!” she said.
“Captin (sic) said for the safty (sic) of the flight… we didn’t say or do anything!”
Shebley shared the post along with a video of what had happened.
“Shame on you United Airlines for profiling my family and me for no reason other than how we look and kicking us off the place for ‘safety flight issues’ on our fight to DC for the kids spring break,” she said.
“My three kids are too young to have experienced this”.
Shebley claimed she had asked staff about a five-point harness (a seatbelt) for their kids, but the attendant said she had not idea what she was talking about.
“We're going to ask that you step off the aircraft with all your belongings,” the attendant requests of Shebley.
When her husband asks the attendant why, the woman says it was ‘because they are investigating’.
Eventually the pilot approaches the family, requesting that they follow the request.
“Now you're coming to tell me I need to get off the plane?” Shebley’s husband asks the pilot.
“Yes sir,” he responds.
“Is it a discriminatory decision?” Shebley asks, but the pilot explains it’s because of a ‘safety of flight issue’.
When the family was removed from the plane, they spoke with customer service – who quickly apologised and put them on another plane.
An official complaint was also lodged.
United Airlines have denied the incident had anything to do with the family’s religious beliefs.
The Daily Mail reported in a statement the airline said they rebooked them on a later flight due to concerns about the child’s safety seat, which they claimed did not comply with federal safety regulations.
The airline said they had zero tolerance for discrimination.
News break – April 1
