French authorities investigate whether Jewish passengers are evacuated due to religion

PARIS (AP) – French authorities are trying to determine whether a group of young French citizens have been evacuated from a plane from Spain to Paris this week because they are Jewish.

The airline Vueling denied the claims.

Dozens of French passengers were pulled off a flight to leave the Spanish city of Valencia for Paris on Wednesday, which Spanish police and airlines described as unruly behavior.

Minister Jean-Noël Barrot contacted the Vueling CEO of Carolina Martinoli to pay close attention to his concern about the evacuation of a group of young French Jews from one of the company’s flights, France’s European and Foreign Affairs said in a statement Saturday. ”

Balotte also requested more information to “determine whether these people are discriminating in accordance with religion.”

The Spanish ambassador to France also made similar requests.

“Ms. Matt Noli assured Balotel that a thorough internal investigation is underway and that her findings will be shared with French and Spanish authorities,” the ministry said.

Vueling previously denied that there were reports that the incident involved the removal of 44 minors and 8 adults from the V8166 flight, which was related to the passenger’s religion.

Some Israeli news media reported that the students were Jewish and their dismissal was motivated by religious motives, a statement repeated online by the Israeli minister. Spanish police said minors and adults are French nationals. A spokesperson for police officers said the agent involved was not aware of the organization’s religious beliefs.

A Vueling spokesman said passengers were removed after minors repeatedly tampered with the plane’s emergency equipment and interrupted the crew’s safety demonstrations. A spokesman for a police officer said the plane’s captain ordered the removal of minors from the plane at the Valencia Manis Airport because they repeatedly ignored the crew’s instructions.

On Thursday, the Spanish Jewish Community Federation expressed concern about the incident. The group said Wilding needed to provide documented evidence of what happened on the plane.