70-Year-Old Man Kicked Off Flight for Making Racist Comments to Flight Attendant

665556898
An Air India plane parks at the gate at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on March 7. DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images

A 70-year-old man was kicked off a flight after allegedly making racist comments to a flight attendant on a Binter Canarias flight, which was bound to La Palma, on Spain's Canary Islands.

The passenger was reportedly boarding a plane as witnesses said he "hurled racist abuse," according to Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"I don't want blacks around me," the man reportedly shouted to the black flight attendant.

In a video uploaded to social media by passengers, the plane's captain ordered the passenger to leave the flight, as reported on SF Gate. The incident took place on March 14.

In the video, several security guards assisted in trying to remove the passenger, and a confrontation ensued. The passenger then left the plane and was reportedly detained by the Civil Guard at the Los Rodeos airport in Tenerife, El Pais reported.

The Spanish airline has reportedly filed a racial complaint against the unruly passenger.

"From Binter we want to express our utmost rejection and outrage at behaviors of this type and show our full support to our crews who constantly strive to provide the best service to our customers," the Spanish airline said in a statement, following the incident, according to SF Gate.

Binter also retweeted support of a social media user who called out the racist attack.

Todo mi apoyo para la azafata de @BinterCanarias que sufrió un ataque racista. Indignación que en el siglo en el que vivimos se sigan viviendo estas situaciones. Hasta cuando!!!!

— David García Cabrera (@davidgarcab) March 15, 2018

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Most recently, Tracy Lee has finished a documentary episode on national security examining the balance between the State Department and ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go