Barcelona, Spain – A recent incident involving the removal of French Jewish children from a Vueling Airlines flight has ignited widespread condemnation and raised serious questions about the airline’s behaviour, especially after it was confirmed that the flight’s captain is Iván Chirivella. Chirivella is famously known for training two of the 9/11 hijackers who killed thousands in New York City in the deadliest attack on U.S. soil in history.
The controversy surrounds Vueling flight VY8166 from Barcelona, where 50 French Jewish children were removed from the aircraft under highly questionable circumstances, while their 21 year-old camp leader was violently arrested. The incident has drawn severe criticism, with many pointing to it as an act of religious discrimination. Adding a chilling dimension to the narrative, Vueling has verified that Captain Iván Chirivella was indeed at the controls of the flight.
Chirivella happens to be the flight instructor who trained Mohamed Atta and Marwan Al Shehhi, the two notorious terrorist hijackers behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.
Reports from social media indicate that the children’s camp leader attempted to protect the children by instructing them to “hide all evidence of their faith and Jewish identity.” This desperate measure underscores the perceived threat and distress experienced by the group.
The decision to deplane the children stands in stark contrast to other reported incidents on flights where passengers have allegedly made pro-terrorist remarks without facing similar consequences. For instance, a post by @DahliaKurtz highlights a situation where passengers reportedly yelled pro-terrorist rhetoric with immunity on another flight, raising concerns about inconsistent application of airline policies. Such “pro-‘palestine'” behaviour on airline flights have become frequent enough to be almost commonplace among air travel.
Sources indicate that Captain Chirivella is ultimately responsible for the police getting called on the French Jewish children they had kicked off the flight. This chain of events has intensified scrutiny on the captain’s judgment and the airline’s accountability.
The incident has resonated deeply within communities, prompting strong reactions across social media platforms. A tweet from @SwordOfSalomon also brought attention to the unfolding situation, further amplifying calls for transparency and justice.
As of Friday, July 25, 2025, the incident continues to be a subject of intense discussion and concern, with many awaiting further explanation from Vueling Airlines regarding the circumstances that led to the children’s removal and the role of Captain Chirivella in the decision, deeming the explanation from airline staff to be highly dubious in light of conflicting eyewitness reports.
- with special thanks to BenAnusim on X for the updates!
- Related: Jewish Children Deplaned, New Details Emerge: Captain Trained 9/11 Hijackers, Had “Palestinian” Flag on Console
