http://shanghaiist.com/2016/03/18/virgin_atlantic_racist.php
She wasn't looking for her headphones she was trying to change seats before the flight took off and he told her not to (not a problem in my book as I moved seats shortly after). After an initial exchange they started arguing and it was more of a "did you hear what he said/she said to me" and she was swearing at him too". The airline staff told him that he would be removed from the plane if he continued to make trouble and did try to move him to another cabin but the other cabin was full. They told him that he need to calm down and leave her alone - he was acting aggressively but as soon as the plane took off he slept right through the the flight and never even left his seat which was at least 10 rows behind her. He also said he did have an illness but it wasn't a mental one. I was unable to hear a short exchange they had but she was equally aggressive at and swearing at him and they also told her to calm down because she was being disruptive - they both were. While he was out of order her account doesn't match up - she wasn't looking for her head phones as she was originally sitting at the other end of the cabin and that is not how the exchange started. To be fair when they spoke at one point I couldn't hear what they were saying and but I think the Virgin staff handled it well considering that thy didn't see any of it happen and but they were great for the rest of the flight. He did come across quite agressively in his manner but never looked as if he was going to be violent. It's just his voice was quite deep and he was a large man. And she gave back by yelling and shouting down the cabin. It was his fault arguing over nothing and while I can't confirm he wasn't racist (because I didn't hear everything) the way see is portraying it is comepletely different to how it actually happened - although I have only read this article and not her account so...
I am not saying he wasn't being rude - he was and he started the argument and it was totally unnecessary , not am I claiming to have heard their whole argument. I am just pointing out that the account that I read on this article contradicts to some extent what I witnessed. And yes they were both told that if they continued to argue that they would be taken off the plane because they were both being loud and swearing while the plane got ready for takeoff
For me this incident has highlighted several quite disturbing, and possibly global, social trends; the fact that in the plane (although sparsely occupied) only 2 onlookers offered support to deescalate, or balance the situation; the level of virulence and incitement whipped up and in hand the amount of media interest garnered by such an account of an incident of such minor magnitude.
An absolutely objective account is impossible to realise, which is why I have decided to post my account of the incident; although it will be different to everybody else’s, and will probably be different to what I actually observed (as is the nature of human memory); I was a close up witness and feel the need to contribute my version of events to help give anybody who is interested in the event a better picture and to also allow them to think about the evidence and subjectivity of such accounts and what conclusions they themselves should be willing to make based on these.
Before take-off. The lady moved back a few rows, just as an announcement was made that for take-off people should stick to their allocated seats. She was told to move back by the man and after a brief exchange was sworn at in an aggressive but quite covert way; he moved close towards her threateningly. No airline staff were nearby to witness. The lady reacted fairly; apparent shock and anger. The man then essentially baited her to repeat what he had said (‘oh really, what did I say then?’), whilst she was angered, and he allowed himself to appear composed, if not clearly amused. At this point the staff arrived, the lady was caught angrily swearing and urged to move away. This unfair interpretation by the authorities could have only increased the women’s distress and she tried to explain the situation but again in doing so ended up swearing quite loudly. There were young children around and this was the immediate situation that the airline crew had to deal with. At about the time the crew arrived to the scene the two passengers also stepped in and attempted to explain what had happened, in defence of the lady, aware of the misdirection by the man. The man then threatened one of the passengers, although this did not stop him from attempting to intervene, and as I understand he apologised to him (but not the lady) afterwards for his regretful behaviour.
