Arg News – Paris: The French government has demanded an explanation from Spanish airline Vueling after reports emerged that a group of Jewish teenagers were removed from one of its flights—raising concerns over possible religious discrimination.
According to the French Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot contacted Vueling’s executive team to ask whether the French teens were singled out because of their religious identity.
Allegations of Discrimination and Abuse
The group, organized by the Kiener Club, an association that runs summer camps for Jewish youth in France, had just concluded a holiday in Spain and was scheduled to return to Paris from Valencia. Some of the teens were reportedly under 15 years old.
The organization said it plans to file a legal complaint against Vueling, accusing the airline of physical and psychological abuse as well as religious discrimination.
Conflicting Accounts
A spokesperson for Spain’s Civil Guard stated that the flight captain ordered the teens off the plane after they repeatedly ignored crew instructions. He emphasized that the crew had no knowledge of the passengers’ religious background.
However, trip organizers and some eyewitnesses dispute this version, claiming the teens were removed without valid justification and that they had merely sung a song in Hebrew.
Vueling has blamed the passengers for “inappropriate behavior” that threatened flight safety, but said an internal investigation is underway. The airline’s executive Carolina Martinoli reportedly promised a full review of the incident.
Jewish Organizations Respond
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain has called on Vueling to provide documentation to support its version of events. In a public statement, it said: “The multiple reports in the media and on social platforms do not clearly explain the reasons behind the incident.”
The group has urged clarity, particularly regarding any potential religious bias in how the teenagers were treated.
