British Airways captain orders 136 passengers off the plane

136 passengers in economy class of a British Airways flight were removed from the flight by their Captain. Their “crime” was that they expressed their support for a person who, in turn, had voiced his support for a person being forcibly deported.The incident happened when a 30 year old deportee tried to restrain his deportation with pleading “I go die” to the police and immigration staff. Hearing his cries, another passenger, one Mr. Ayodeji Omotade, pleaded with the officers not to “kill him”. Mr. Omotade, aged 39, an English-born was handcuffed and taken in police custody for 8 hours. While he was being removed from the plane, the fellow passengers voiced their support for him. This was judged as a “threat” by the captain and ordered all economy class passengers to be removed from the plane.

The plane finally took-off to Lagos with the deportee, minus the above passengers. They were later accommodated on different flights. However, Mr Omotade has been banned from flying with British Airways for life. Mr Omotade is an IT consultant, married and having a four years old daughter. He hails from Chatham, Kent. He was going to Lagos for his brother’s marriage.

He claims that he did not threaten nor swear at British Airways crew or the police. Yet he was handcuffed and forced off the plane. He has demanded an apology from BA and is claiming that the police took his £1,600 cash which has not been returned to him. He has also lodged a lost baggage complain.

www.britishairways.com