Group of Jewish summer camp attendees forcibly removed from a flight in Valencia, Spain, following calls of antisemitism accusations.
In an unexpected turn of events, a group of approximately 50 French Jewish teenagers, accompanied by their camp director, were removed from a Vueling flight departing Valencia, Spain, bound for Paris, France, on July 23, 2025. The incident has sparked controversy, with allegations of antisemitism and forced removal due to the group's Jewish identity and Hebrew singing, countered by Vueling's assertion that the removal was due to disruptive behavior.
According to Vueling, the removal was prompted by the group's actions that compromised the safety of the flight, including tampering with emergency equipment such as life jackets, oxygen masks, and oxygen cylinders, as well as actively disrupting the mandatory safety demonstration and ignoring crew instructions. The airline has categorically denied that the incident was motivated by antisemitism or religious discrimination.
However, the group’s parents and some Israeli media have alleged antisemitism, claiming that the teenagers were forced off the plane after singing a song in Hebrew. The Federation for Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) has demanded Vueling provide documentary evidence of the events on the plane, and the summer camp organizers have announced intentions to file a legal complaint against Vueling for physical and psychological violence and discrimination based on religion, citing that some children were under 15.
In response, the French Foreign Ministry has expressed deep concern and requested detailed information from Vueling and the Spanish ambassador to France to determine whether discrimination on religious grounds occurred. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot spoke with Vueling’s CEO, Carolina Martinoli, who assured him that a thorough internal investigation is underway and the findings will be shared with French and Spanish authorities.
Notably, one of the minors on the flight stated that the group had occupied their seats peacefully and that a friend may have shouted a Hebrew word too loudly. Flight attendants warned the group they would involve the police if the noise continued, and the group immediately stopped making noise. The statement from Vueling further explained that the actions of the on-board staff were solely in response to behavior that compromised the integrity of the flight and the safety of the passengers.
A video on the Internet shows the director of the Kinneret summer camp being arrested by Spanish police in the airport terminal. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has stated that it, along with Israeli missions around the world, will continue to act and provide assistance to Israelis and Jews in distress wherever they may be.
This is an ongoing investigation with competing narratives between the airline and passengers’ families. The evidence and findings from Vueling’s inquiry and official authorities will be key to clarifying if antisemitism was involved or if the removal was justified solely by safety concerns.
- Despite the general-news surrounding the disruptive behavior of a French Jewish summer camp group leading to their removal from a Vueling flight, the Federation for Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) and the summer camp organizers have accused Vueling of crime-and-justice, specifically, physical and psychological violence, and discrimination based on religion.
- Amidst the holiday of French Jewish teenagers being removed from a Vueling flight due to disrupted behavior and allegations of antisemitism, the French Foreign Ministry is keenly investigating the matter, requesting detailed information from Vueling and the Spanish ambassador to France to ensure there is no crime-and-justice involved on religious grounds.
