Two black airline passengers say they were downgraded from business class to make way for a white woman whose seat was broken.
Thabo Mabogwane and Bongani Mohosan of music group Black Motion were flying from Cape Town to Johannesburg with Comair on 4 November after buying discounted business class seats.
Before take off they were asked to move to economy so two other business class passengers whose seats were broken could take theirs.
Thabo Mabogwane and Bongani Mohosan of music group Black Motion (picutured) were flying from Cape Town to Johannesburg with Comair on 4 November after buying discounted business class seats when they were downgraded before take off
The pair objected and were asked to leave the plane after an argument.
The musicians say they are victims of racism but Comair insists they were chosen because they were travelling on discounted business class fares and the passengers taking their seats were frequent flyer members.
Comair is a British Airways franchisee but is run and managed separately.
The duo wrote on Instagram: ‘Black Motion happened to be the only two young black men in the British airline business class.
‘We were embarrassed and removed from business class just because a white lady complained about a broken seat.
‘[After complaining] we were told they can’t risk to fly us as they are avoiding 9/11. In their eyes we are terrorists, the captain said indirectly.’
The pair got on a later flight.
Comair’s chief executive, Erik Venter, has written to the passengers to apologise.
The musicians said in this Instagram post that they are victims of racism but Comair, which is a British Airways franchisee, insists they were chosen because they were travelling on discounted business class fares
A spokesman told MailOnline: ‘The situation arose as two damaged business class seats were not removed from the check-in system, as should have happened. As a result two customers were checked-in and allocated seats in which they could not fly.
‘These customers were both silver card frequent flyer members, who are prioritised as a matter of global policy. In considering who could be asked to downgrade, the airport staff then identified non-frequent flyers travelling on discounted business class fares.
‘This is common airline practice on rare occasions when downgrades occur. It was on this basis that two other customers in business class were approached.
‘Understandably they were upset. The crew was under pressure because the flight was already delayed, but should have handled the situation better.
‘Comair will not tolerate racism, which is why we have taken the allegations very seriously and investigated swiftly and thoroughly.
‘We have asked the customers if they would like the investigation independently reviewed.’
The spokesman did not comment on the allegation that the musicians were made to feel like terrorists.
The spokesman did not comment on the allegation that the musicians were made to feel like terrorists (stock image)