France’s main international airport, Charles de Gaulle, has opened an investigation after a security agent at a French airport was filmed saying “free Palestine” while returning passports to a group of passengers.
A viral video showed the airport employee approaching a group of tourists, reported to be Israelis, and repeating the slogan as she handed each one their passport in turn.
Reports suggest that the group, who were due to travel on an Air France flight, had their passports taken for secondary checks required for passengers travelling to and from high-risk countries — one of which is Israel.
Air France has since confirmed that the staff member was not employed by the airline and was a contractor from an external security company brought in by the airport.
A spokesperson for the ariline told Le Figaro: "Passport checks on flights are carried out by an authorised external security company, in accordance with current local regulations."
They also said it was "deeply committed to the values of hospitality, respect, and neutrality" and confirmed: "We will ensure that these principles are firmly reiterated to this service provider, whose staff are subject to a duty of confidentiality."
French airport authorities have recognised that the incident was a breach of protocol. Groupe ADP, the company which runs Charles de Gaulle, described it as “unacceptable" and confirmed it has opened an investigation.
The JC has contacted Air France for comment.
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