Passenger Uproar as Ethiopian Airlines Removes Woman from Flight; Airline Issues Statement

Ethiopian Airlines recently faced a social media storm after a video surfaced showing a passenger being forcefully removed from a flight. The incident, which occurred on flight ET308 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi on July 19th, has drawn significant attention and criticism online.

Eyewitnesses on the flight reported that the commotion began around 11:30 pm when a passenger was asked to give up her seat. According to reports, a minister had taken the seat, leading to a heated confrontation. One passenger shared, “I had fallen asleep and was woken up by the commotion. She wanted this to go viral. Ethiopian Airlines kicked out a passenger on my flight because a minister took her seat. They didn’t apologize and they eventually forcefully offloaded her screaming. The minister did nothing. Disgraceful.”

In response to the viral video and ensuing backlash, Ethiopian Airlines released an official statement addressing the incident. The airline explained that the issue arose from an overbooking situation, not due to the presence of any VIP passenger.

The statement reads:

Official Statement Regarding Recent Video Circulation
“Ethiopian Airlines has watched the circulation of a viral video on various social media platforms depicting a passenger being removed from flight ET308 on July 19th, from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. We took the necessary time to investigate the matter thoroughly and bring the factual information to the public. On the date mentioned above, the flight experienced an overbooking situation. Three individuals with standby economy class boarding passes arrived at the boarding gate just a few minutes before the scheduled departure time of the flight. The Boarding Agent advised them that the flight was full and they would be protected on the next flight.

However, they ignored the advice of the Boarding Agent and attempted to board the aircraft, bypassing security personnel at the boarding gate. Our staff members courteously asked these passengers to disembark. One passenger acquiesced to this request, while the remaining two were escorted off the aircraft by security due to non-compliance. It is pertinent to mention that these passengers were booked in economy class, and their seating was in no way influenced by the presence of a non-Ethiopian national VIP passenger in business class. Ethiopian Airlines follows a standard protocol wherein VIPs, Business Class Passengers, and Platinum ShebaMiles members are allowed to board subsequent to the seating of all other passengers.

A misapprehension arose among the standby passengers, leading to the distorted belief that their seats had been allocated to a VIP. This is not the case, and the circulating video does not reflect the true sequence of events. We extend our gratitude to our patrons for allowing us the chance to clarify these circumstances before forming any judgments. Ethiopian Airlines is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all our passengers and to the adherence to our established operational guidelines.

The passengers affected by the overbooking were protected on the next available flight. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.”

Ethiopian Airlines, a proud member of Star Alliance, emphasized its commitment to passenger safety and adherence to operational protocols. The airline has assured that the passengers impacted by the overbooking situation were accommodated on the next available flight.

This incident highlights the challenges airlines face with overbooking and the importance of clear communication with passengers. As the situation unfolds, Ethiopian Airlines continues to navigate the repercussions and maintain transparency with its patrons.

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