Fifty Jewish children were shockingly ejected from a Vueling Airlines flight in Spain for singing traditional Hebrew songs — sparking accusations of cultural suppression and over-policing.
In a deeply disturbing incident that has ignited international backlash, 50 Jewish children and teens, aged 10 to 15, were forcibly removed from a Vueling Airlines flight at Valencia Airport on Wednesday — their alleged “offense”: singing Hebrew songs.
The group, visiting Spain as part of a European Jewish summer camp, was boarding a flight to Paris when they began cheerfully singing traditional tunes — a common practice in youth gatherings. Clad in tzitzit and wearing Star of David symbols, their joyful expression of identity apparently triggered disproportionate alarm from the flight crew.
Eyewitnesses report that despite repeated instructions, the group continued singing. Rather than handling the situation with cultural sensitivity, Vueling staff called the police, escalating a peaceful moment into a scene of intimidation.
Shocking twist: Officers ordered the children to place their mobile phones on the ground — allegedly to prevent the event from being documented. A 21-year-old group leader who attempted to explain and mediate was violently subdued, pinned to the ground, handcuffed, and detained. Her phone was confiscated, and she was later released only after signing a non-disclosure agreement, according to witnesses.
Keren Lamy, a mother of one of the children, told i24NEWS:
“My son was threatened by staff simply for singing in Hebrew. They warned him: ‘If you continue, we’ll call the police.’ That’s exactly what they did.”
With no formal apology, no alternative travel arrangements, and no compensation, the children were left stranded at the airport. Fortunately, a local Jewish community organization stepped in, providing food, shelter, and assistance to help them continue their journey.
Vueling Airlines has yet to comment.
