France investigates whether Jewish passengers were removed from a Vueling flight over their religion, following conflicting accounts of disruptive behavior and allegations of antisemitism.
Paris –
French authorities have launched a formal inquiry after allegations surfaced that a group of French Jewish passengers was removed from a Vueling flight from Valencia to Paris. Officials are investigating whether the removal was prompted by antisemitic bias.
Although the airline and Spanish police cited unruly behavior as the reason, some Israeli media and a government minister claimed the incident was motivated by religious discrimination.
Incident: Removal of French Passengers Raises Eyebrows
On July 23, flight V8166 was destined for Paris when 44 minors and 8 adults, all French nationals, were asked to deboard. Vueling and Spain’s Civil Guard stated the group had repeatedly disrupted the safety briefing, tampered with emergency equipment, and ignored crew instructions. Israeli outlets reported the group was Jewish, including children singing in Hebrew, and that religion fueled the decision.
Diplomatic Alarm and Demand for Clarity
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot personally contacted Vueling CEO Carolina Martinoli, expressing “deep concern about the removal of a group of young French Jews.” Barrot requested a full account to determine whether religious discrimination influenced the decision. The Spanish ambassador to France received a similar inquiry.
Spanish authorities affirmed that officers were unaware of the group’s religious identity at any point, and Vueling reaffirmed its denial of discrimination, emphasizing safety concerns alone.
Vueling’s Position: Safety, Not Faith
Through a spokesperson, Vueling insisted the removal followed professional safety protocols, invoked after the minors’ behavior posed risk. The airline firmly denied antisemitic motivations, stressing that crew and police decisions were based strictly on behavior, not religious identity.
Community Groups Call for Transparency
The Federation for Jewish Communities of Spain demanded documentation to clarify the incident and address whether implicit bias affected the outcome. They called for Vueling to fully disclose evidence validating its safety-based rationale.
The Broader Backdrop: Airlines & Antisemitism Allegations
The investigation echoes past aviation controversies. In 2022, Lufthansa was fined $4 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation after over 100 visibly Jewish passengers were barred from boarding a connecting flight. The airline claimed mask violations, but U.S. authorities labeled it religious discrimination. Lufthansa has since instituted anti-antisemitism training and policy changes.
Why It Matters
This case tests the balance between airline authority and civil rights during international travel. With escalating concerns about inflight bias and religious profiling, the outcome could set precedents in airline conduct and consumer protection—especially when minors are involved.
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