Delta Airlines says it’s looking into allegations of discrimination after a known prankster posted a video saying he and a friend were removed from a flight departing London-Heathrow airport because they “spoke a different language.”
The airlines’ statement came Wednesday after Adam Saleh posted the video on Twitter. Saleh told ABC News he was speaking to his mother on the phone, in Arabic, when a woman told a Delta crew member she felt unsafe, AP reported.
Delta said it was “gathering all of the facts before jumping to any conclusion.”
Saleh, however, is known for making hoax prank videos. Many people—including passengers on the plane—have called his story into question.
Six people who were on the same plane as he was have disputed his story. Anthony Ellis, a passenger on the flight, told the Washington Post that he was seated near Saleh.
Yo @omgAdamSaleh explain this. pic.twitter.com/QUqrZXAPF3
— KEEM (@KEEMSTAR) December 22, 2016
“He was never any part on the phone—I would have heard the whole conversation,” Ellis said, adding that he can speak Arabic. “If someone’s being racist, I would stand up right away. In this day in age, you defend each other. It wasn’t like that. I mean, this guy was trying to antagonize people. I think because they made it into such a big scenario, [Saleh] then kind of panicked a little bit.”
“The YouTube guy was trying to get his friend to shout something in Arabic which he did a total of 4 times,” another person wrote on social media alongside their plane ticket, according to TheWrap. He added that neither Saleh or his friend Slim Albaher were on a phone call.
“A couple of passengers after the second time said they were making themselves and their young children uncomfortable and could they shut up,” the person added.
Delta spokesperson Morgan Durant told the New York Daily News Wednesday that crew investigated the incident after complaints.
“The customers who were removed sought to disrupt the cabin with provocative behavior, including shouting,” Durant stated. “This type of conduct is not welcome on any Delta flight.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
