Iranian-American Dallas City Official Says He Was Stopped From Boarding Virgin Flight [Updated]
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Bobby Abtahi, a Dallas attorney who also serves as the vice-chair of the City Plan Commission, tweeted Monday that Virgin Airlines wouldn’t allow him to board a flight in New York. A crew member told him the captain didn’t feel “comfortable” with him on board. Abtahi, a Dallas native, is Iranian-American.
Abtahi, who has also been a city council candidate and is well-known in Dallas, tweeted earlier today that he was being prevented from boarding a plane at LaGuardia Airport in New York. He added sarcastically that he was awaiting Ashton Kutcher’s arrival, because he was sure he must be on Punk’d.
Abtahi forwarded Jezebel the statement he provided to the Dallas Morning News. He says in it that he was pulled aside by the gate agent and told the captain was “not comfortable” with him getting on board. He said that after he asked for a reason and to speak to the pilot, he was told the “discomfort” was because because he’d “cut off” a crew member on his way into the airport.
New York: where we never cut anybody off.
A supervisor soon arrived and went on the plane to speak to the crew, Abtahi adds, and he was still not allowed on the flight. He was allowed to cancel it with no penalty.
Abtahi told the Morning News that he “truly hopes” the decision was not related to his race: “[B]ut the thought did cross my mind since I haven’t shaved in five days and my hair is a mess. I’ve been on a beach for five days.”
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