Addis Ababa, July 21, 2024 (Addis Walta) Ethiopian Airlines (EA) released official statement in response to a video circulating on social media platforms depicting a passenger on flight ET308 to Nairobi being removed on July 19, 2024.
The airlines on its statement noted that it takes “the necessary time to investigate the matter thoroughly and bring the factual information to the public.”
As per the Airlines statement, three individuals booked to fly economic class experienced overbooking. The boarding agent explained the matter and, “advised them that the flight was full and they would be protected on the next flight,” reads the statement.
The three passengers said to have ignored the advice of the boarding agent and attempted to board the aircraft bypassing security personnel at the boarding gate. While one of the passengers agreed to the request while the two refused and were escorted off the aircraft by the security.
Therefore, the information circulating on social media is not factual that the passengers’ economic class in no way affect VIP passengers’ business class as it is wrongly purported on social media platforms. “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,” EA added.
The airlines further explained the protocol and procedures it follows in boarding passengers that it “. . .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.”
Hence misinterpretation of the situation created among the standby passengers which led “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,” per the statement.
EA stated that the passengers encountered overbooking were protected on the next available flight.
