Award-winning music group Black Motion were allegedly escorted off a British Airways flight, following an apparent racist incident. They are now seeking legal advice.
Incident
Thabo “Smol” Mabogwane and Bongani “Murdah” Mohosana were booked into business class. They were seated when an air hostess asked them to move to economy as a white woman’s seat was broken and she needed to move.
They questioned why they were singled out to move to economy, and were apparently told their tickets were “worth less.”
“The fact is that there were only two black people in economy and they were asked to move. When they asked why they were being chosen, they (the air hostess) told them their ticket was cheaper. We asked them why they were not accommodating us and they said they were doing so by putting us in economy,” said Black Motion’s road manager, Nicky Seema, who was also on the flight.
Seema went to investigate what was going on and “things got heated” as they questioned why they were being moved.
The air hostess then allegedly went to inform the captain of the situation. She returned to tell Mabongwane and Mohosana that the captain was having them removed as they were “aggressive” and he “was avoiding a 911.”
Police then allegedly came on board the flight and escorted Mabongwane and Mohosana off the flight. Seema, and another colleague, voluntarily joined them.
In a statement, British Airways said it was investigating the incident.
“We have been made aware of this incident. Comair and British Airways will not tolerate racism. We regard these allegations as very serious and they thus warrant thorough investigation. We will establish what happened and take whatever action is required,” said Comair’s Shaun Pozyn.
Mohosana, explained the incident. He said that they had been asked to move simply so that a white woman could be comfortable.
