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Vala Setareh and wife Dr Dona Hooshmand are accusing Jetstar of racism after they were removed from a flight leaving Sydney for the Gold Coast in March.
A family has accused Jetstar of racism after they were removed from a flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast.
Vala Setareh and wife Dr Dona Hooshmand were travelling with their two young children and a grandparent in tow in March, but claim they were booted off a Jetstar flight while boarding following an argument with a crew member, The Australian reports.
They told the newspaper a crew member ignored requests for assistance before their boarding passes were taken away.
The boarding passes were returned, but then the managing crew member decided to take them again.
Dr Hooshmand told the crew the family needed to get to the Gold Coast for work, but crew members reportedly called Australian Federal Police.
Vala Setareh and wife Dr Dona Hooshmand are accusing Jetstar of racism after they were removed from a flight leaving Sydney for the Gold Coast in March.
The AFP escorted the family to the Virgin Australia counter where they booked new flights.
Mr Setareh, a lawyer, is now demanding $10,000 in compensation, News Limited reported.
He voiced his dissatisfaction with the airline and was reportedly offered a $444.49 refund and $295.51 to pay to cover the difference for booking the Virgin flights.
Jetstar then offered an apology and a $500 travel voucher after the demand for compensation, Mr Setareh told the paper.
In a statement to Yahoo News Australia a Jetstar spokesperson alleged that the family of “repeatedly refused to follow the instructions and were abusive towards our cabin crew when boarding”.
“We explained this to the customers at the time and also in our follow up discussions with them,” the spokesperson said.
“The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and we have zero tolerance for anti-social behaviour at airports and on our aircraft.”
The Australian Federal Police have been contacted for comment.