The Veronicas claim Qantas flight attendant who called cops on will.i.am also kicked them off flight

The Veronicas claim the Qantas flight attendant who called police on will.i.am is the same one who had officers drag them off a flight.

Jess and Lisa Origliasso were removed from a Sydney to Brisbane flight in September after a disagreement with staff over luggage.

They asked a flight attendant for help manouvering a bag in the overhead locker, but were refused because it was against company policy.

Rapper will.i.am (pictured arriving in Sydney after police let him go) likens his treatment on board a Qantas flight to a ‘police state’ after officers were called to meet him on the plane

Jess and Lisa Origliasso were in September removed from a Sydney to Brisbane flight after a disagreement with staff over luggage and claim the same flight attendant was involved

 Jess and Lisa Origliasso were in September removed from a Sydney to Brisbane flight after a disagreement with staff over luggage and claim the same flight attendant was involved

A fellow passenger helped instead but later after they were seated, they claimed two flight attendants came over and lectured them, then ordered them off the plane.

The singers claim one of the employees was the same one will.i.am claimed was ‘racist’ and aggressive’ towards him on his flight on Saturday.

Qantas said claims that the same crew members were involved were ‘completely untrue’.

will.i.am said he missed the announcement to turn off his laptop because he was wearing noise-cancelling headphones and was told off by the employee.

She then had five Australian Federal Police officers meet the plane at the terminal.

Officers spoke to will.i.am and his entourage and took no further action.

Jess and Lisa on Sunday said they were outraged that the flight attendant was still harassing people and not pulled off duty. 

‘We feel sickened she was given no reprisal and has instead continued to abuse her position, discriminate and misuse the full force and intimidation of the Australian Federal Police to her agenda,’ they said.

‘In this case to menace will.i.am and other [people of colour] on this flight.’

The twin singers, 34, were on the QF516 between Sydney and Brisbane, set to take off at 10am, when the incident occurred. Pictured: The Veronicas being marched off the plane by police

The twin singers, 34, were on the QF516 between Sydney and Brisbane, set to take off at 10am, when the incident occurred. Pictured: The Veronicas being marched off the plane by police 

The Veronicas said they asked a flight attendant for help manouvering a bag in the overhead locker, but were refused because it was against company policy

 The Veronicas said they asked a flight attendant for help manouvering a bag in the overhead locker, but were refused because it was against company policy

The sisters noted that both their own incident and will.i.am’s were not taken further by the AFP because they were not considered police matters.

‘Qantas should have run a genuine investigation into the matter, instead of shifting blame and denying accountability,’ they said.

‘This should never have been allowed to happen.’

At the time, The Veronica’s explained that everything seemed fine after the passenger helped them move their bags.

‘Then right before take off, the flight attendant bought over the manger and pointed us out. He proceeded to lecture us about company policy,’ they said.

‘We listened and asked for their names. At that point they refused to give us their names, and announced they were going to call security on us. We had no idea why. That’s when we started filming.’

‘We were so confused as to why asking for their names resulted in us being removed by three Federal Police.

Singer will.i.am, who's real name is William Adam launched into a Twitter rant (pictured) after he believed he was abused by Qantas flight attendant because of his race

Singer will.i.am, who’s real name is William Adam launched into a Twitter rant (pictured) after he believed he was abused by Qantas flight attendant because of his race

will.i.am was wearing noise-cancelling headphones as he mixed music on his computer as the plane was coming in to land

The artist was shocked that police were called as he didn't think the altercation was a big deal at the time

will.i.am (pictured landing in Sydney after the flight) was wearing noise-cancelling headphones as he mixed music on his computer as the plane was coming in to land and missed the announcement

‘Such an upsetting and embarrassing experience. We still can’t believe this happened, and that the flight was delayed for so long when we had no idea what was happening. We are still in shock and so upset.’ 

Qantas said the pair were ‘argumentative’ with staff, refused to stop filming and taking photos, and were generally disruptive.

‘After boarding, two passengers refused to follow crew instructions and were offloaded,’ it said. 

will.i.am said the flight attendant singled him out when he missed an announcement to put his laptop away. 

The singer, real name William Adams, was wearing noise-cancelling headphones as he mixed music on his computer as the plane was coming in to land. 

‘Qantas, your racist flight attendant was beyond rude and took it to the next level by calling the police on me,’ he said.

‘Thank god the other passengers testified that she was out of control. The police finally let me go. Imagine if the police were as aggressive.’

‘Is calling the police on a passenger for not hearing the PA due to wearing noise cancelling headphones appropriate?

‘I did comply quickly and politely, only to be greeted by police. I think I was targeted.’ 

will.i.am departing Sydney on Sunday a day after the flight debacle. He performed at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday night as is on his way to his next tour stop

will.i.am departing Sydney on Sunday a day after the flight debacle. He performed at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday night as is on his way to his next tour stop

He maintained the incident was racially motivated because the flight attendant allegedly singled out only people of colour on Saturday's flight

He maintained the incident was racially motivated because the flight attendant allegedly singled out only people of colour on Saturday’s flight 

The artist was shocked that police were called as he didn’t think the altercation was a big deal at the time.

‘I’ve never seen this, it was like a police state,’ he told the Sunday Telegraph.

‘I am the coolest traveller, I don’t ask for much. I try to stay out of their way. I come on the plane to go to sleep or I go to work.’

‘She asked me to put my laptop away and I put it away and I told her to relax because the whole flight she was stressed.’

Five Australian Federal Police officers boarded the plane after it arrived in Sydney and discussed the incident with will.i.am and his entourage.

They decided not to take any action and later called the rapper to tell him this in person.

The artist said he shared the story with his 13 million Twitter followers and named the flight attendant because others may have been abused in the past.

He said other passengers didn’t have the profile he did, so it was his responsibility to bring the issue to light.

However, will.i.am insisted that he wanted ‘no harm’ to come to the flight attendant and ‘hopefully this is a lesson’. 

‘She shouldn’t lose her job over it – if anything she should be retrained on how to deal with people. This is an opportunity to be pleasant to everyone, to just be nice,’ he said.

He maintained the incident was racially motivated because the flight attendant allegedly singled out only people of colour on the flight.

‘I don’t want to believe she racist. But she has clearly aimed all her frustrations only at the people of colour,’ he said.

Qantas chalked the whole incident up to a misunderstanding, but rejected any claims of racism.

‘There was a misunderstanding on board, which seems to have been exacerbated by will.i.am wearing noise-cancelling headphones and not being able to hear instructions from crew,’ it said.

‘We completely reject the suggestion this had anything to do with race.’ 

Where is the love? Some were quick argue the woman was only doing her job and it was not right to name and shame her to his millions of followers

Where is the love? Some were quick argue the woman was only doing her job and it was not right to name and shame her to his millions of followers

Qantas only said ‘we’re looking into what occurred’ in regards to whether the flight attendant would face punishment. 

will.i.am, who is visiting Australia as part of the RNB Fridays Live festival with Black Eyed Peas, began his Twitter rant about 12.30pm on Saturday. 

will.i.am is visiting Australia as part of the RNB Fridays Live festival with Black Eyed Peas

 will.i.am is visiting Australia as part of the RNB Fridays Live festival with Black Eyed Peas

A witness to the incident – who does not wish to be named – told the Daily Telegraph the stoush came after 50 Cent’s guitarist Travis Ferguson was told he would have to check his instrument in rather than take it on board.

The passenger said Ferguson left the plane and returned with his guitar, leading to a verbal altercation that will.i.am was oblivious to because he could not hear it through his noise-cancelling headphones. 

The Australian Federal police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that they had responded to a request for assistance from an airline arriving into Sydney from Brisbane and spoke to the crew and passengers on board.

‘AFP officers met the flight on arrival and spoke to crew and passengers on board. No further action was required as a result. The AFP considers this matter finalised,’ a spokesperson said in a statement.

The woman believed to be the flight attendant has been contacted for comment.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk