UK security and counter-terrorism
Third easyJet passenger grounded over security concerns
Another air traveller has been taken off his flight on the budget airline after a complaint of ‘suspicious behaviour’
A passenger was asked to leave his flight in Pisa in a security incident. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA
Ben Quinn
Wednesday 6 April 2016 23.18 BST Last modified on Thursday 7 April 2016 00.40 BST
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A passenger was asked to leave an easyJet flight from Pisa to London on Wednesday after someone else on board complained of “suspicious behaviour” – the third such incident involving the airline in recent weeks.
It came as a black Londoner spoke out over an incident in which he was escorted off another easyJet flight in Italy by armed police on 29 March after a passenger complained that she felt uncomfortable about him. Meghary Yemane-Tesfagiorgis, who was asked to leave the plane as it stood on the tarmac in Rome, claimed he had been the victim of racial profiling.
That case had echoes of another incident involving a traveller from an ethnic minority background who was removed from an easyJet flight at Luton Airport on 25 February. A fellow passenger had reported the British Christian as a security threat over a message on his phone about prayer.
Details of Wednesday’s incident are scant and it is not clear if race or ethnicity is alleged to have played any part. However, the airline confirmed that it involved the flight EZY5234 which it said was delayed “due to additional security checks”, adding: “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.”
Yemane-Tesfagiorgis described his experience on ITV News: “The captain informed me that a fellow passenger did not feel comfortable with me on board.
“With the communications I have had with easyJet since, I have let them know in no uncertain terms that I feel very strongly about this issue. I did not accept it and I asked where it fitted into civil aviation laws or if it is an easyJet policy.”
Yemane-Tesfagiorgis, who said he was taking legal advice, was questioned by Italian authorities for more than 15 hours after he was removed from the flight last month and taken to the airport’s police station.
“If [the other passenger] was uncomfortable, she should be the one that gets off the plane.” He said the airline had apologised but “it’s not about me and easyJet. It is way bigger than that.”
The airline said that flight EZY5258 from Rome Fiumicino to London Gatwick on 29 March was delayed when police requested that additional security checks were undertaken.
“Mr Yemane-Tesfagiorgis was questioned by the authorities as a result of another passenger reporting concerns about his behaviour,” easyJet said. “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.”
On 25 February, a British man was removed from an easyJet plane by armed police at Luton airport after a fellow passenger read a message on his mobile phone about “prayer” and reported him as a security threat.
Laolu Opebiyi, 40, from London, said he was forced to hand over his phone and supply his password in order to establish his innocence after he tried to arrange a conference call prayer with friends using WhatsApp.
A detective subsequently questioned and cleared Opebiyi but the pilot refused to allow him back on to the easyJet flight to Amsterdam and he was forced to wait more than three hours for the next scheduled departure.
The Nigerian-born Christian believes the passenger next to him assumed he was a Muslim and jumped to the conclusion that he may be a terrorist.
