Armed police were called to remove an upset family from a plane following an incident where they were allegedly asked to give up a business class seat for an airline staff member.
Ivan Lopes, along with his wife and two daughters, aged 25 and 11, were traveling from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France to Salvador, Brazil on an Air France flight. The trouble started when they upgraded to business class tickets but were informed at the gate that the upgrade for one of their daughters could not be honored due to a supposed technical issue with seat 7L.
Upon boarding, they discovered that seat 7L was already taken by a French passenger, believed to have connections to Air France, while the problematic seat was actually 5L. The situation escalated as Mr. Lopes contested the explanation, leading to a confrontation in front of other passengers.
Allegedly, the captain became aggressive during the explanation, with some of the encounter captured on video. The family was told not to film by a cabin crew member. Subsequently, armed French police intervened, escorting the family off the plane and informing them they would need to buy new tickets if they wished to travel the next day.
After seeking legal advice, the family purchased new business class tickets with another airline. Mr. Lopes claimed their luggage was delayed for about two hours. The family estimates a financial loss of approximately €16,000, including costs for the original Air France tickets, the upgrade, replacement flights, and additional expenses.
The family intends to take legal action against the airline, alleging the response was excessive and caused undue distress, especially to the 11-year-old. Air France acknowledged removing the family from the flight but strongly refuted their version of events, citing the family’s disruptive behavior as the reason for their removal.
According to Air France, there was a malfunctioning business class seat, and their upgrade policy allows for cancellation with a refund in such instances. The airline claimed they offered to seat the family together in premium economy but stated the family insisted on retaining three business class seats while moving one passenger to economy.
The decision to remove the family was made by the captain to ensure the flight’s safety and orderly operation, following international rules. Air France emphasized that passenger and crew safety is of utmost importance.
