According to The Times of India, the child was comforted by the mother but intimidated by the cabin crew. Soon after the flight took off, the child couldn’t stop crying, and the aircraft was taken back to the terminal where the family was offloaded.
Family offloaded from BA flight ‘over crying 3-yr-old’
An Indian family has alleged that a leading European airline offloaded them from the flight because their three-year-old crying child. @British_Airways
— Never Fear To Speak The Truth (@EmpoweringGoa) August 9, 2018
The family wrote a letter to the aviation minister Suresh Prabhu, narrating their ordeal and imploring him to take action.
Indian family offloaded by @British_Airways over 3 year Child’s crying.
Joint Secy level officer has written to minister @sureshpprabhu alleging racism and discrimination by British Airways. Airline says they’ll investigate the incident.Letter copy attached. pic.twitter.com/ENHw3VEFiD
— Zeba Warsi (@Zebaism) August 9, 2018
After the security announcement, the family alleges that the child found the seating uncomfortable and hence started crying. A cabin crew went up to them and rudely started shouting at their child. When the child couldn’t stop crying, the cabin crew came again and shouted, “you bloody keep quiet otherwise you will be thrown out of the window” which left the child more petrified. It is alleged that the crew also hurled racist abuses at them.
So far, a spokesperson from British Airways has said that they take these issues very seriously and will look into a full investigation on the matter.