French authorities are investigating whether a group of young French nationals, reportedly Jewish, were removed from a Vueling Airlines flight from Valencia, Spain, to Paris due to their religion. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, saw 44 minors and eight adults disembarked from flight V8166.
Vueling Airlines has denied claims of religious discrimination, stating that the passengers were removed because the minors repeatedly tampered with the plane’s emergency equipment and disrupted the crew’s safety demonstration. Spanish Civil Guard officials corroborated that the captain ordered the removal due to the minors repeatedly ignoring crew instructions, and stated that agents were unaware of the group’s religious affiliation.
However, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, has contacted Vueling CEO Carolina Martinoli to express “deep concern” about the incident and requested further information to ascertain if discrimination based on religion occurred. A similar request has been made to the Spanish ambassador to France. Ms. Martinoli reportedly assured Mr. Barrot that a thorough internal investigation is underway, and its findings will be shared with both French and Spanish authorities.
The Federation for Jewish Communities of Spain has also voiced concern about the incident, calling on Vueling to provide documentary evidence of what transpired on the plane. Some Israeli news outlets and an Israeli minister online have suggested the removal was religiously motivated.