Guilty of flying while Muslim? Arab-American family kicked off United Airlines flight

An Arab-American family of five headed for a Sprig Break vacation was recently kicked off a flight in Chicago.

They said it happened after they asked for child safety seats and were told it was for security reasons.

The family was on a flight bound for Chicago when the flight attendant told them they would have to get off.  Soon after, the pilot came out to explain.

 

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Amy Saad Shebley posted video on her Facebook page about the incident saying, "Shame on you United Airlines for profiling my family for no reason than how we look.  My three kids are too young to have experienced this."

The family says it all started with them simply asking about a five-point harness for the kids.  The flight attendant told them she had no idea what they were talking about, and moments later, they were asked to leave.

 

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The Council on American Islamic Relations of Michigan says it knows exactly what safety flight issues mean; they say it means being "guilty of flying while Muslim."
Its executive director said there's a growing problem of airlines removing Muslims from flights.

The family has since filed a complaint with the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Illinois. 

United Airlines said in a statement the family was rebooked on a later flight.  The airline said the child's safety seat did not comply with federal safety regulations.  The statment went on to say both United and Skywest "have zero tolerance for discrimination."
 


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