Video footage of passenger mutiny during unfair removal of two black men from flight

© Twitter, @LPGLDN
EasyJet passengers objected to the dismissal of two black men. Twitter, @LPGLDN

• EasyJet attempted to remove two black men from a flight for refusing to put on their shoes for take-off.
• A video shows passengers objecting to the treatment of the two men.
• The men were eventually allowed to stay on the flight and the cabin crew replaced instead.
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Passengers on an EasyJet flight allegedly staged a mutiny to prevent the airline from unfairly removing two black men from the flight.

The airline reportedly attempted to deport the two men for “blowing a crew member” when they were asked to put on their shoes for take-off.

The incident took place on a flight from London Gatwick Airport to Malaga in Spain, and passenger Luke Gayle posted a video on Twitter.

-LG (@LPGLDN) August 5, 2021

The argument took place while the flight was taxiing on the runway, forcing the plane to turn around.

An attendant called the police to report two “disobedient passengers”, which led to four armed officers entering the plane, taking the two men’s passports and unloading their luggage.

In the video, passengers can be heard objecting to the treatment of the men, telling them “no, don’t get off” and “sit down”.

After complaints from other passengers, the two men were allowed to stay on the flight and the cabin crew were replaced instead.

EasyJet said the crew was replaced because their shift was over and not because of passenger objections, according to The Daily Mail.

Gayle wrote on Twitter: “After all the backlash and objections of the entire flight except for this member of the cabin crew, they gave in and allowed them to stay on board. The cabin crew were swapped out. . “

He added that he believed that the “color of men’s skin [played] part of EasyJet’s overreaction. ”

In a statement to the Daily Mail, a spokesperson for the airline said: “EasyJet does not discriminate against any individual. Safety is our top priority and there is no evidence that discrimination played a role. role in the problem on board. ”

“The primary responsibility of our crew is the safety of everyone on board.”

“Our crew must ensure that safety requirements are met by all passengers and as part of their role must check before take off that everyone is complying.”

“This is especially important for passengers seated in emergency exit rows where the crew make sure there are no loose objects during take off.”

The airline said it would look into the incident internally after receiving complaints from customers aboard the flight.