Muslim youth kicked off Delta flight 'for speaking Arabic'
- By Web Desk -
- Dec 21, 2016
“We got kicked out of a Delta airplane because I spoke Arabic to my mom on the phone and with my friend slim,” said Adam Saleh, a Yemeni-American Muslim and a YouTube star.
In a tweet posted with the whole incident on video, the American Muslim claimed that he and his friend were kicked off from a Delta airlines flight on London’s Heathrow airport for speaking Arabic. They were about to fly to New York.
We got kicked out of a @Delta airplane because I spoke Arabic to my mom on the phone and with my friend slim… WTFFFFFFFF please spread pic.twitter.com/P5dQCE0qos
— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016
“You guys are racists. I spoke a different language and you say you feel uncomfortable! I can’t believe my eyes. We spoke a different language and now there are six white people against us bearded men.” Saleh can be seen speaking in the video he recorded when the airline’s staff and security asked him to come out of the plane.
Please help us get back to NYC https://t.co/DPBoQ6MN8z
— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016
Later Saleh tweeted that he and his friend rebooked on another flight to New York with a different airline after going through the security check a second time, adding that he is going straight to his lawyer.
The video blogger also urged everyone to boycott Delta Airlines in a video claiming that the airline’s staff was polite “on camera” but asked them to come out of the plane rudely when he turned the camera off.
Update: Delta issues ‘updated statement’; faces backlash
We are still stuck at the airport and Delta has not given us any info. They keep telling us to wait. Please spread the word #BoycottDelta
— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016
UPDATE: Delta just brought the police to speak to us.
— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016
Boycottdelta https://t.co/3tbPMSH9rH
— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016
UPDATE: were taking off right now and heading to our lawyer once in NYC. Any inquiries email: [email protected]
— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016
Delta Airlines’ view
Delta airlines said he and his friend were asked to leave the London to New York flight following an unspecified “disturbance.”
The airline said two customers were removed from the flight and later rebooked on another flight after a disturbance in the cabin resulted in more than 20 customers expressing their discomfort.
“We are taking allegations of discrimination very seriously; our culture requires treating others with respect,” said the airline in a statement posted on its website.
The airline added that it has spoken with “the customers who were removed” and plans are in place to immediately speak with the crew and other passengers when the flight lands.
“We will provide an update once we have more information,” adds the statement.
#BoycottDelta trends on Twitter
The internet community immediately took notice and netizens started trending #BoycottDelta after watching the videos Saleh posted.
Here are some of the tweets expressing anguish and disapproval.
If it were white people speaking in Arabic they wouldn’t have been kicked off of the plane. 🐸☕️ #BoycottDelta
— NUFF$AID (@nuffsaidNY) December 21, 2016
wow, i was just talking yesterday about how Delta is/was my favorite airline… not anymore. how disgraceful. #BoycottDelta
— DYLAN REY (@DylanRey) December 21, 2016
Can you imagine the outcry if a white person got kicked off an arab airline for speaking english? #BoycottDelta @Delta
— Abdul Monnan (@LEGEND_87x) December 21, 2016
How can people say something is fake when there’s literally videos of it happening? Grow up and accept that racism exists. #BoycottDelta
— Father Chrismad (@AhmadKassir1) December 21, 2016
@delta could you a publish list of languages ppl are allowed to speak and on which routes? Asking for a few billion friends. #boycottdelta
— joseph m. azam (@JosephAzam) December 21, 2016
Arabic is one of the six most-spoken languages in the world. Violating a basic human right isn’t justified. Speak up. #BoycottDelta
— Snober Abbasi (@snobers) December 21, 2016
#BoycottDelta i would’ve stood up and called them a racist to their face for kicking people out for speaking the language of their race
— blue boy (@sun4asoul) December 21, 2016
people saying “bye” to the guy as he was being kicked out make me so mad. y’all are disgusting and shouldve been kicked off #BoycottDelta
— 🍒 (@vibesofjenner) December 21, 2016
I am now afraid to speak my native language while traveling because I might get kicked out of the plane, Thanks @Delta #boycottDelta
— Sebb Argo (@SebbArgo) December 21, 2016
The fact that only a few people on the plane did something to help while no one else seemed to care is actually disgusting #boycottdelta
— Benny (@Beno_ldn) December 21, 2016
I wanna learn Arabic now and start speaking it on planes, I want to educate racists and stand up against anyone who’s offended #BoycottDelta
— ArtificalTreeAiden🎄 (@BoyAtJanoFest) December 21, 2016
HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE! Retweet and spread the word! We’re not gonna stay silent. #BOYCOTTDELTA @Delta @omgAdamSaleh @SlimmySlim94 pic.twitter.com/MNRdtD1za8
— #BOYCOTTDELTA (@coveredbylaila_) December 21, 2016