A second Spanish airline has become embroiled in an antisemitism row after a Kosher meal had the words ‘Free Palestine’ scrawled on it during a long-haul flight from Buenos Aires to Madrid.
This case involves the Spanish flag carrier Iberia, which is owned by the same parent company as low-cost airline Vueling, which made international headlines last week when police removed a group of Jewish children from a flight in Valencia.
Passenger Salvador Auday was flying on Iberia flight IB-IB102 from Buenos Aires to Madrid on August 4 when he was presented with a Kosher meal, which had the handwritten ‘Free Palestine’ message scrawled on it.
Salvador says several other passengers also had the letters ‘FP’ scrawled on their Kosher meals.
As Salvador explains: “I reported the incident to the head flight attendant, who took down the complaint, took photos, etc. They tried to apologize in every possible way.”
“Apparently, it wasn’t any of the crew members, so if it came from outside, I’d imagine that Iberia will conduct an internal investigation of its suppliers and procedures. That’s precisely why I reported it, so that it doesn’t get forgotten,” Salvador continued.
Along with informing the airline, Salvador also reported the incident to the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations – an organization that represents Jewish people across Argentina.
The DAIA has already made a formal complaint to Iberia and has demanded an explanation for the “discriminatory act.”
Suspicion is currently focusing on the third-party catering supplier that Iberia uses in Buenos Aires, and a spokesperson for the carrier says an investigation is already underway.
“During the flight, some passengers who had ordered kosher food reported that handwritten pro-Palestinian messages appeared on their trays,” a spokesperson explained.
“The Iberia crew documented what had happened and got involved to assist those affected. The commander personally approached them to apologise on behalf of the airline.”
“Iberia is conducting a thorough investigation, both internally and with the external suppliers responsible for catering, intending to clarify what happened and take all appropriate measures.”
The statement added: “At Iberia, we categorically reject any form of discrimination, incitement to hatred or conduct that violates the dignity of individuals. Such behaviour is unacceptable and contrary to the values of respect and inclusion that are integral to our company’s identity.”
This incident will no doubt be embarrassing for Madrid-based International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns Iberia and Vueling.
On July 23, the crew of a Vueling flight from Valencia to Paris called the police to have a group of French Jewish children and their adult minders removed from the plane before it had departed.
Vueling claims the children were interrupting the safety demonstration and handling emergency equipment despite repeated warnings from the cabin crew and even one of the pilots.
The summer camp that was responsible for the children, however, claims they didn’t do anything wrong and that the cabin crew took it upon themselves to have them booted from the plane after they were overheard singing in Hebrew.
To make matters worse, one of the cabin crew was allegedly overheard referring to Israel as a ‘terrorist state.’
Vueling says that an investigation into the incident is ongoing, but insists that the children and adult counselors were removed “solely for safety reasons.”
