Vueling allegedly shows bias towards Jewish teenagers at a French holiday camp, according to camp officials' claims.
In an incident that has sparked controversy and accusations of antisemitic discrimination, more than 50 French Jewish teenagers, aged between 10 and 15, were removed from a Vueling Airlines flight bound for Paris on July 23, 2025[1][2]. The incident, which occurred in Valencia, Spain, has led to a heated debate, with the passengers and their representatives claiming they were targeted due to their Jewish identity and Hebrew singing[1][5].
According to reports, the group's disruptive behaviour, which included mishandling emergency equipment and repeatedly ignoring instructions from cabin crew during the mandatory safety demonstration, was the reason given by Vueling Airlines for their removal[2][4]. However, the passengers and their parents argue that the incident was triggered by one of the teenagers singing a song in Hebrew[1].
One mother described the incident as an "anti-Semitic act against young children who did nothing"[1]. Another parent claimed that a 21-year-old leader of the traveling group was tackled to the ground and forcibly taken away in front of the kids, who started screaming[1]. The incident affected children as young as 12 and 13[1].
Following the incident, Club Kineret's lawyer, Julie Jacob, announced the intention to file a complaint for physical and psychological violence, discrimination based on religion, and disruptive behaviour[2]. French authorities have opened an investigation to determine if the removal was due to discrimination based on religion or if it was related to the behaviour described by the airline[2][4].
Vueling Airlines denies any suggestion that the decision to remove the passengers was based on their religion[2][3]. The airline maintains that the group was removed due to their disruptive behaviour, which posed a risk to flight safety[2][3]. However, the passengers and their representatives continue to argue that they were targeted due to their Jewish identity.
Israeli and French officials have criticised the violent handling of the 21-year-old youth leader by Spanish police[1][3]. French officials have also condemned remarks by Spanish ministers labeling the teenagers as "Israeli kids," which they found discriminatory[3].
In a statement, Vueling Airlines said, "We deeply regret the discomfort caused to our customers and their families, and we apologise for any inconvenience this incident may have caused"[2]. The airline has not yet commented on the ongoing investigation.
References:
[1] Associated Press (2025). French Jewish teenagers removed from Vueling flight in Spain. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58063340
[2] Reuters (2025). Vueling denies removing French Jewish teenagers from flight over religion. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/vueling-denies-removing-french-jewish-teenagers-flight-over-religion-2025-07-24/
[3] The Jerusalem Post (2025). French Jewish teenagers removed from Vueling flight in Spain. [online] Available at: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/french-jewish-teenagers-removed-from-vueling-flight-in-spain-677677
[4] The Times of Israel (2025). French Jewish teenagers removed from Vueling flight in Spain. [online] Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/french-jewish-teenagers-removed-from-vueling-flight-in-spain/
[5] The Guardian (2025). French Jewish teenagers removed from Vueling flight in Spain. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/24/french-jewish-teenagers-removed-from-vueling-flight-in-spain
- The controversy over the removal of more than 50 French Jewish teenagers from a Vueling Airlines flight has led to a discussion about travel safety and general-news, with a focus on lifestyle and crime-and-justice, as the incident has sparked accusations of antisemitic discrimination.
- The heated debate surrounding the removal of the Jewish teenagers from a Vueling Airlines flight has brought attention to crime-and-justice and lifestyle topics, with many questioning the airline's decision and raising concerns about potential discrimination based on religion.
