Man taken off easyJet flight in Pisa over 'security concerns'
A passenger was removed from an easyJet flight in Pisa after another passenger complained of “suspicious behaviour”.
It is the second time in just over a week that the airline has asked a passenger to disembark a plane that was about to leave Italy.
The incident on the London-bound flight from Pisa happened on Wednesday, the same day Meghary Yemane-Tesfagiorgis, from London, appeared on British television claiming he was the victim of racial profiling after being asked to leave a plane that was readying for take-off from Rome on March 29th because another passenger “felt uncomfortable”.
EasyJet confirmed the latest incident, saying in a statement that the flight from Pisa was delayed "due to additional security checks before departure".
The company added: “A passenger underwent specific checks with the authorities due to another passenger reporting what they believed was suspicious behaviour.
“Although the passenger was cleared to fly, he was unable to travel on his original flight and so easyJet provided him with hotel accommodation, meal and a transfer to the next available flight.
“The safety and wellbeing of easyJet passengers is easyJet's highest priority."
Meanwhile, Yemane-Tesfagiorgis told ITV news on Wednesday night that he was escorted off the plane in Rome by an armed police officer and was questioned for hours before being able to leave for London 15 hours later.
"I felt violated. I’m a passenger like anyone else," he said.
A few days earlier an easyJet flight from Vienna to London was also halted just before take-off because a passenger believed the Iraqi man sitting next to her might be an Islamic extremist.
The woman alerted cabin crew, security staff were called, the takeoff was cancelled and all passengers and all their luggage were taken off the plane for checks.
Read more: Isis scare grounds easyJet London flight
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It is the second time in just over a week that the airline has asked a passenger to disembark a plane that was about to leave Italy.
The incident on the London-bound flight from Pisa happened on Wednesday, the same day Meghary Yemane-Tesfagiorgis, from London, appeared on British television claiming he was the victim of racial profiling after being asked to leave a plane that was readying for take-off from Rome on March 29th because another passenger “felt uncomfortable”.
EasyJet confirmed the latest incident, saying in a statement that the flight from Pisa was delayed "due to additional security checks before departure".
The company added: “A passenger underwent specific checks with the authorities due to another passenger reporting what they believed was suspicious behaviour.
“Although the passenger was cleared to fly, he was unable to travel on his original flight and so easyJet provided him with hotel accommodation, meal and a transfer to the next available flight.
“The safety and wellbeing of easyJet passengers is easyJet's highest priority."
Meanwhile, Yemane-Tesfagiorgis told ITV news on Wednesday night that he was escorted off the plane in Rome by an armed police officer and was questioned for hours before being able to leave for London 15 hours later.
"I felt violated. I’m a passenger like anyone else," he said.
A few days earlier an easyJet flight from Vienna to London was also halted just before take-off because a passenger believed the Iraqi man sitting next to her might be an Islamic extremist.
The woman alerted cabin crew, security staff were called, the takeoff was cancelled and all passengers and all their luggage were taken off the plane for checks.
Read more: Isis scare grounds easyJet London flight
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