Vueling Airlines has issued an official statement denying claims of antisemitism after a widely publicized incident in which approximately 50 Jewish teens were removed from a flight from Valencia to Paris on Tuesday.
The teens, French citizens aged 10 to 15, were returning from a summer camp in Spain when the incident occurred. According to eyewitness accounts and Jewish organizations, the group sang traditional Hebrew songs while boarding and waiting for takeoff. Flight attendants allegedly reacted with hostility, instructing the teens to stop singing, and reportedly stated that "Israel is a terrorist state." The group was later removed from the plane by Spanish authorities. A 21-year-old female counselor was reportedly arrested and physically restrained by police.
In its response, Vueling stated that safety and security were the only motivations behind the crew’s actions. The airline claims the group exhibited disruptive behavior, interfered with safety procedures, touched emergency equipment, and ignored repeated instructions from the crew. These actions, Vueling argues, required the activation of emergency protocols and the intervention of Spanish law enforcement.
