YouTube
YouTube

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.”

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

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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