French Teenagers Removed from Spanish Flight Spark Diplomatic Firestorm
Allegations of antisemitism and excessive force follow mid-air incident
A flight destined for Paris saw a dramatic mid-journey disembarkation of French Jewish teenagers, igniting a diplomatic clash between France and Spain. Allegations of antisemitism and police brutality have surfaced following the removal of the group.
Disruptive Behaviour or Discrimination?
Vueling flight V8166, en route from Valencia to Paris on July 23, removed 44 children and eight adults, a group from a French summer camp. The airline stated the group exhibited “disruptive behaviour,” but accounts of the events diverge significantly.
French ministers Aurore Bergé and Benjamin Haddad have issued a strong condemnation of the actions of Spanish police and remarks made by Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show a female group leader being handcuffed while held on the ground.
Los organizadores de un viaje de estudiantes españoles nos pidieron que bajáramos a un grupo de pasajeros. Vueling ha bajado a todo el grupo. No podemos admitir en nuestros aviones un trato así. Nos pondremos en contacto con los organizadores para pedir explicaciones. pic.twitter.com/k92rI1v2Ff
— Óscar Puente (@oscar_puente_) July 24, 2023
The two French ministers confirmed they had spoken with the counsellor, who has been signed off work for 15 days due to “temporary incapacity.”
“No act justifies the disembarkation and the excessive and brutal use of force by the Guardia Civil against the young woman,”
—Aurore Bergé and Benjamin Haddad, French Ministers
Óscar Puente initially described the teenagers as “Israeli brats” on social media, a remark he later deleted. However, the French ministers condemned the statement for its implication that the Jewish children were Israeli and that this somehow justified their treatment.
“We will never accept the trivialisation of anti-Semitism,” the ministers stated, underscoring their commitment to combating such sentiments.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge
Police reported that the flight captain ordered the group’s removal after they disregarded crew instructions. Vueling provided two statements detailing the incident.
The airline alleged the group engaged in “mishandled emergency equipment and actively disrupted the mandatory safety demonstration, repeatedly ignoring instructions from cabin crew.” Vueling also claimed witness statements from other passengers supported their account and that of the police.
We are aware of the situation that took place on flight VY1816 from Valencia to Paris on July 23rd. We want to clarify that the information published does not reflect the reality of what happened on board. Vueling maintains its firm commitment to passenger safety and good conduct on board. We have taken witness statements from other passengers that confirm our account and that of the police. The group of young people were removed from the flight due to their disruptive behaviour. Some children engaged in confrontational behaviour such as attempting to loosen life jackets, tampering with overhead oxygen masks and removing a high-pressure oxygen cylinder, violating air safety laws.
— Vueling (@Vueling) July 27, 2023
The airline further accused some children of “confrontational behaviour,” including allegedly tampering with safety equipment like life jackets and oxygen masks, which they stated violated air safety laws.
An anonymous passenger interviewed by Spain’s La Sexta TV appeared to corroborate Vueling’s version, claiming some children pulled out life jackets and activated crew-call buttons.
However, other accounts directly contradict the airline’s narrative. Passenger Damien, seated at the front of the plane, told Europe 1 radio that the teenagers were “very calm.” He noted only minimal interaction between friends, stating, “everything was perfectly fine.”
Karine Lamy, mother of one of the teenagers, told i24 TV that a child singing in Hebrew was warned by staff, who threatened to call the police if the noise continued. She claimed the children then quieted down before police boarded and asked the entire group to disembark.
According to Damien, a flight attendant announced a security issue and the intention to call police during the safety demonstration. He insisted there was “no shouting, no violence.”
A lawyer for the summer camp, Murielle Ouknine-Melki, suggested on French TV that the presence of kippahs worn by some children offered the only explanation for the incident, implying they were targeted for being Jewish.
Vueling vehemently denied that religious factors influenced its crew’s actions, and the Guardia Civil stated its officers were unaware of the passengers’ religious affiliation.
France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, contacted Vueling’s CEO, Carolina Martinoli, over the weekend to convey his “deep concern” about the events.
Globally, air travel disruptions have seen a rise. In 2023, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported a 37% increase in unruly passenger incidents compared to the previous year, though these incidents are typically related to mask mandates or alcohol consumption, not religion.
