Bearded Spaniard forced off plane by fellow passengers who thought he was Muslim

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

A Spanish university professor with a long beard and dark complexion says he was briefly forced off an airliner by passengers who feared he was an Islamic terrorist.

Pablo Gutierrez Vega, a 35-year-old law professor at the University of Seville, told the newspaper El Pais he was humiliated last month when three German passengers on an Air Berlin flight approached him during a layover in Palma de Mallorca en route from Seville to Dortmund, Germany, and asked to search his carryon luggage.

[...]

On discovering the men were not undercover police officers, Gutierrez Vega refused to hand over his luggage.

The pilot then approached the group and led the professor to the runway, Gutierrez Vega said from Seville in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

"The pilot said the passengers believed I was a Muslim," Gutierrez Vega said.

He said the pilot had observed the confrontation with the other passengers and asked him to get off the plane in order to talk.

On the runway the pilot apologized for the incident and said he was willing to expel the frightened passengers and continue the flight with Gutierrez Vega on board, the professor said. The pilot also gave him the option of storing his luggage in the cockpit to pacify the other passengers.

Gutierrez said he decided to reboard and let the pilot take his luggage for the remainder of the flight "because I didn't want to cause any problems."

Gutierrez has hired an attorney to initiate legal proceedings against Air Berlin.

The airline regets the incident and acknowledges the pilot erred by not ejecting the passengers who confronted Gutierrez Vega, said Air Berlin's managing director for Spain and Portugal, Alvaro Middelmann.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/28/...or_Slighted.php

[pedroh 21]

ah yes, the beauties of racial profiling..

[one...two...tree 2,762]

ah yes, the beauties of racial profiling..

Hispanics get pinned twice...first for being Hispanic and now for looking Muslim.

[I'm Gone 60]

Before you fly be sure to get a beard trim and a haircut.

[Mirorgate 0]

ah yes, the beauties of racial profiling..

Hispanics get pinned twice...first for being Hispanic and now for looking Muslim.

well at least they get 1 out of the 2.. imagine being hispanic and then being found out.. they actually are hispanic.

as to the article... he should sue the 3 passangers.. not the airline. the airline isnt responsible for a$$hat ppl.

[Fandango 1,439]

as to the article... he should sue the 3 passangers.. not the airline. the airline isnt responsible for a$$hat ppl.

Gotta love the beauties of being litigious....lil bit of money should make him feel alllll better

I think he was treated fine by the airline....pilot wanted to remove the three passengers, so why is it their fault?

Oh wait, they have the money

Edited September 29, 2006 by LisaD

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If I were a terrorist wanting to board a plane, I'd shave my head and face.

Edited September 29, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[almaty 19]

good point..

and the airline is responsible for all passengers that fly with them..

[I'm Gone 60]

If I were a terrorist wanting to board a plane, I'd shave my head and face.

That their yearbook or eharmony.com photos? LOL

[mawilson 2,133]

What's Jinky doing with all those terrorists?

If I were a terrorist wanting to board a plane, I'd shave my head and face.

[Mirorgate 0]

good point..

and the airline is responsible for all passengers that fly with them..

is responsible for their safety sure... but for someones actions that are not within norm? someones stupid fears and insecurities??

[KaiserD 12]

as to the article... he should sue the 3 passangers.. not the airline. the airline isnt responsible for a$$hat ppl. no0pb.gif

Too right, they had no right to demmand to see his luggage! I hope the men felt stupid

[almaty 19]

3 chops

[Fuzzness 2]

Those passengers should not have been allowed to fly at all. If you're not allowed to say there is a bomb on board, why are they allowed to say there is a potential terrorist on board?

[mawilson 2,133]

Those passengers should not have been allowed to fly at all. If you're not allowed to say there is a bomb on board, why are they allowed to say there is a potential terrorist on board?

You *are* allowed to say there's a bomb on board, if you really think there is a bomb on board.