But the conversation seemed troubling to a nearby passenger, who told the crew she overheard him making “potentially threatening comments”, the airline said in a statement. That passenger left her seat after Makhzoomi made eye contact with her and a Southwest employee soon arrived to take Makhzoomi off the plane.
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It was, of course, nonsense, in the sense that the complaining passenger does not know Arabic, so she could not have heard him “talk about martyrdom”, even if that was what he was doing. “That is when I thought, ‘Oh, I hope she is not reporting me, ‘ ” Makhzoomi said.
After Makhzoomi was escorted from the plane and informed he would not be permitted to return, he was subsequently searched by security officials and interrogated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation later that day, Makhzoomi got a refund from Southwest and arrived at his Oakland destination on Delta Air Lines 8 hours later than expected.
He told his uncle about the chicken dinner they were served and the moment when he got to stand up and ask the secretary-general a question about the Islamic State, he said.
A flight attendant told police that Abdulle was removed because she did not “feel comfortable”, with her as a passenger, according to Independent.
Makhzoomi says he doesn’t want any money for his ordeal-just an apology from Southwest.
“One guy came with police officers within two minutes – I can’t believe how fast they were – and told me to get off the plane”, he said.
According to a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, the student was removed because crew members chose to “investigate potentially threatening comments made onboard our aircraft”.
Khairuldeen Makhzoomi, a 26-year-old Iraqi refugee, came to the United States in 2002 when his diplomat father was killed. “We understand local law enforcement also spoke with that passenger as the aircraft departed the gate”, Southwest said. To respect the privacy of those involved, our policy is to not publicly share specifics of the event, as we try to work with individual passengers to address concerns or feedback regarding their experience.
Despite the company’s reassurances, its decision to bar Makhzoomi drew outrage from many people, including those concerned about anti-Muslim sentiment stirred up by politicians such as Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.
Ms Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said there had been at least six cases of Muslims being pulled off flights so far this year. Southwest neither condones nor tolerates discrimination of any kind’.
“No further action” was taken after questioning Makhzoomi, an Federal Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman said.
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He says one of the agents asked a question that surprised him: “You need to be very honest with us with what you said about the martyrs”.
