YouTubers Adam Saleh, Slim Albaher Share New Videos After Being Removed from Delta Flight

YouTubers Adam Saleh and Slim Albaher are working on setting the record straight the day after they were removed from a Delta Airlines flight. The pair claimed they were removed for speaking Arabic after more than 20 people “expressed their discomfort” after hearing the language. Saleh recorded the incident on his phone and they were removed from the flight that was departing London-Heathrow and rebooked for their flight to New York on a different airline.

In one video, uploaded by Albaher this morning, full footage of the incident can be seen, including discussions with the flight attendants and captain, who described it as “an elevated situation.” The captain also indicates Saleh “brought attention upon yourself.” The duo also expressed their shock over what had occurred. Saleh uploaded a separate video, in addition to tweeting a thank you to those who supported them.

After they were removed from their flight, Saleh and Albaher went live on Periscope, providing updates to their followers. Saleh tweeted that they had to go through a security check for a second time and only got to board another plane after being checked for half an hour. In Saleh’s tweet from last night, they acknowledged that it sounds like the boy who cried wolf for those who called it a hoax but insisted that it’s real and that they “deserve to speak up about this and not let this happen again.”

We are still stuck at the airport and Delta has not given us any info. They keep telling us to wait. Please spread the word #BoycottDelta

— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016

UPDATE: Delta just brought the police to speak to us.

— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016

UPDATE: We're being security checked AGAIN right now.

— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016

UPDATE: were now on another flight with a different airline heading to NYC after being checked for 30 minutes. We land 5:50pm in NYC

— Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016

After initially stating that the allegations of discrimination were being reviewed, Delta released an updated statement late Wednesday explaining that the customers were removed for “disruptive behavior”:

“Upon landing the crew was debriefed and multiple passenger statements collected. Based on the information collected to date, it appears the customers who were removed sought to disrupt the cabin with provocative behavior, including shouting. This type of conduct is not welcome on any Delta flight. While one, according to media reports, is a known prankster who was video recorded and encouraged by his traveling companion, what is paramount to Delta is the safety and comfort of our passengers and employees. It is clear these individuals sought to violate that priority.”

As details of the incident began to unfold, social media users called for a boycott of Delta, while others doubted the validity of the claims given Saleh’s prankster past:

Social Media Responds to #BoycottDelta After Removal from Flight

Imagine if Emirates airline kicked someone off for speaking English. Sounds stupid right? #BoycottDelta

— Hayyan (@ihayankakakhel) December 22, 2016

What triggers fear on an airplane:

-Speaking Arabic
-Wearing Hijab
-A beard
-Wearing a Sikh turban
-Merely being Muslim#BoycottDelta

— Khaled Beydoun (@KhaledBeydoun) December 21, 2016

this incident shows just how powerful white privilege is & how racists accommodate their comfort by screaming "fear". #BoycottDelta

— fatima (@yafatoosh) December 21, 2016

This is the guy who you guys think actually got kicked off a plane for speaking Arabic. #boycottdelta pic.twitter.com/ORqHxla1Kp

— Ashley Rae (@Communism_Kills) December 21, 2016

It shouldn't matter if you're a YouTube star/prankster, if you're telling me you've been discriminated, then I'm believing you #BoycottDelta

— Kevin Maxwell (@kevin_maxwell) December 21, 2016

the ignorant people under this tag saying we're overreacting are the same people that tried to boycott starbucks for a red cup #BoycottDelta

— nisa (@anisalrh) December 21, 2016

#boycottdelta Why wasn't he recording what happen prior to him getting kicked off? I'm supposed to take a pranksters word? You're all fools.

— Atlas (@Since___92) December 21, 2016

You've got to be kidding me, @Delta. We won't be flying with you again. Unbelievable. https://t.co/Nz92xyIIoI

— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) December 21, 2016

Being drunk, abusive and arrogant is not enough to get kicked off a plane. But Being smart enough to speak 2 languages is? #BoycottDelta

— Benny James (@Beno_ldn) December 21, 2016

I can't believe that those people in the back literally said "bye" in a cheerful intonation. #BoycottDelta

— Snober Abbasi (@snobers) December 21, 2016

For people who keep denying the fact that Muslims and Arabs (or anyone who fits their description) get kicked off of planes #BoycottDelta pic.twitter.com/ubfSmCtFkl

— Saraah ♤ (@BrownSugaSaraah) December 21, 2016

What are your thoughts on the Delta incident? Do you think Saleh and Albaher should have been removed from the flight? Sound off in the comments section below!

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