Passengers Booted from Flight Charge Racism

Passengers kicked off a Spirit Airlines flight at LAX Monday night are accusing the airline of racially discriminating against them.

The airline reportedly accused seven black passengers of being disruptive and had them escorted off the plane by police. Some of the passengers claimed the ejection, initiated by a white flight attendant, was uncalled for.

A spokesman for Spirit Airlines said the company is investigating the incident.

“Spirit does not tolerate any form of discrimination,” spokesman Paul Berry told The Los Angeles Times. “Our primary concern is always the safety of our customers and team members.”

However, Alexandria Wright, who was ejected after complaining about the treatment of other black passengers, said she and others were the victims of racism.

“I’m really humiliated just for the simple fact that you hear about this type of stuff happening in America, discrimination issues and stuff like that, but to actually experience it first-hand...” Wright, told CBS Los Angeles.

The situation started when the airline double booked some seats, said Officer Rob Pedregon, an airport police spokesman.

A couple boarded the plane to find someone sitting in their seats, Pedregon told Patch. An attendant moved the pair to other seats, but the man was not happy about it.

“He was unhappy about being moved and started to raise his voice,” Pedregon said. The pilot asked him to leave, and when he refused, the police were called. After the police arrived, the couple complied, and they were booked on another flight, Pedregon said.

But some passengers thought the couple’s treatment was unfair. Their complaints got them kicked off, too.

The flight crew told them, “‘You are riling up the other passengers. We are going to have you guys ejected,” Pedregon said.

Such incidents are fairly common at LAX and other airports, especially since 9-11, he said. If a flight crew deems passengers disruptive or if they are making other passengers uncomfortable, they won’t hesitate to eject the unruly passenger, he said. The passengers are typically booked on another flight.

This isn’t the first time that Spirit Airlines has made headlines for ejecting passengers. Spirit Airlines, which was named America’s most-hated airline in 2014, famously kicked a man off a Chicago flight for wearing saggy pants in 2012.