Social Trends: Minister Ejects Passenger, Ignites Ethiopian Airlines Outrage

On July 20, 2024, Ethiopian Airlines faced significant backlash after a video surfaced showing a female passenger being forcibly removed from a flight to accommodate an Ethiopian minister who took her seat.

Ethiopian Airlines kicked out a passenger on my flight because a minister took her seat.

They didn’t apologize and they eventually forcefully offloaded her screaming. The minister did nothing. Disgraceful pic.twitter.com/RSgDUbbDez

— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) July 20, 2024

The incident occurred on a flight where the passenger, reportedly of Somali origin, was not offered an apology and was eventually offloaded from the plane, screaming.

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Kicking out a passenger for the sake of privilege is blatant discrimination and a stain on Ethiopian Airlines’ reputation. When an airline prioritizes power over people, it loses its integrity. Respect & dignity should never be compromised for status! Shame on you, @flyethiopian

— Dr. Gatimu Muchai, PhD (@GatimuMuchai) July 20, 2024

The Ethiopian minister involved did not intervene or apologize.

Boycott Ethiopian Airlines . I can’t imagine being in a situation like this 🚨 Let them operate in Ethiopia. pic.twitter.com/9woErj3YbF

— Sholla Ard 🇰🇪 (@sholard_mancity) July 20, 2024

The event has sparked widespread criticism and calls for a boycott of Ethiopian Airlines, with many expressing outrage over the airline’s treatment of passengers and its adherence to safety and customer service standards.