British man escorted off an easyJet flight because other passengers “didn’t feel safe”
A British man was forced to leave an easyJet flight by armed police after another passenger on the plane “stated that she does not feel safe with [him] on board”. Meghary Yemane-Tesfagiorgis was due to fly from Lonsdon to Rome, when the cabin crew asked him to come forward. He was then met by armed police, who made him leave the flight.
Yemane-Tesfagiorgis told ITV News:
After a 20 minute delay the captain explained a technical fault with luggage and informed us that the flight will commence shortly. After a few minutes, cabin crew emerged and asked 'Is there a passenger with the last name of Yemane-Tesfagiorgis on board?' I replied 'Yes', assuming that it was my luggage that was the issue. I was then asked to come to the front of the cabin where I was greeted by armed police. I was asked to leave the plane by the captain, when asked why, he explained: 'A fellow passenger has stated that she does not feel safe with you on board.'
He says he was then questioned by Italian authorities, and left to wait in th airport for another 15 hours. When asked by ITV News, he said he believed it was “racial profiling”.
easyJet said in a statement:
easyJet can confirm that flight EZY5258 from Rome Fiumicino to London Gatwick on 29 March 2016 was delayed due to the police requesting that additional security checks were undertaken before departure. Mr Yemane-Tesfagiorgis was questioned by the authorities as a result of another passenger reporting concerns about his behaviour. The safety and security of its passengers and crew is our highest priority and airlines have to take any security-related concerns seriously. easyJet rebooked Mr Yemane-Tesfagiorgis on the next flight from Rome to Gatwick after the authorities confirmed they were satisfied he could travel.
[via ITV News]
