Muslim U.S. citizen Atif Irfan and eight members of his family were removed from an AirTran flight on January 1, 2009, after having what turned out to be an innocent discussion about airplane safety. Passengers overhearing the discussion, which was misconstrued as presenting a terrorist threat, reported the incident, leading the TSA and FBI to get involved. After the FBI cleared them of any wrongdoing, Irfan and his companions were allowed to book another flight, but were charged nearly double the price of their original flight. AirTran later issued an apology, offered to refund any additional costs they incurred and gave them a free flight home.ABC News: AirTran Apologizes to Muslim Passengers (January 2, 2008)
Sequence of Events
- Irfan's wife is overheard speaking about the "safest seats" on the plane
- Comment is reported
- FBI and TSA are brought in to investigate
- FBI interviews family members
- FBI intervenes on behalf of Irfan family, clearing them of suspicion
- AirTran refuses to book family on later flight to Orlando
- Confrontation allegedly occurs at AirTrans customer service counter
- Local police escort Irfans from airportCNN: Muslim family removed from plane remains at odds with airline (January 2, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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Traveling with Irfan were his brother, Kashif Irfan, their wives, their sister and three childrenCNN: 'Safest' seat remarks get Muslim family kicked off plane (January 2, 2008)
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According to Irfan, conversation did not include alert words "bomb," "explosion" or "terror"CNN: 'Safest' seat remarks get Muslim family kicked off plane (January 2, 2008)
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The airline later apologized and offered Irfan and his companions free flights homeABC News: AirTran Apologizes to Muslim Passengers (January 2, 2008)
