Stansted Airport launches investigation after staff shouted 'free Palestine' and racial slurs at Israeli passengers

Stansted Airport has launched an investigation after a member of staff was filmed shouting "free Palestine" and racial slurs at Israeli passengers.

The barrage of insulting language was hurled at a number of people disembarking from a flight from Tel Aviv.

Footage shared online captures a woman storming through the arrivals lounge, pointing her finger at a long queue of passengers.

Children can be heard wailing in the background while the angry woman waggles her finger at staff members and those in the line.

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The team at Stansted Airport has confirmed to the People's Channel the event took place sometime last week.

The woman can be heard bellowing "Free Palestine" between a series of obscenities, later adding: "F**k off, bro, I work in this airport."

Employees wearing hi-vis jackets could be seen directing the woman away from the queue forming opposite WH Smith.

A spokesman for the London travel hub told GB News: "The airport is aware of the video circulating on social media and we are investigating the incident."

Back in March, a Ryanair employee triggered an internal investigation after donning a pro-Palestine badge while working at Stansted.

The budget airline said the member of staff breached company rules, which prohibit employees from showing political symbols while working.

Legal group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) raised the complaint, which said that a passenger questioned the badge.

It alleged the employee called him "racist and disgusting" and threatened to cancel his ticket.

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At the time, a Ryanair spokesman said: "It is not Ryanair policy for staff to wear badges, symbols or other items that might be considered political, divisive or potentially offensive to passengers or colleagues.

"We sincerely apologise for any offence or concern that may have arisen where this policy was not adhered to."

UKLFI explained that items emblazoned with the slogan "Free Palestine" could impose a threatening environment for Jewish or Israeli people when going about their day-to-day lives.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the group said: "We appreciate Ryanair taking the issue seriously and reminding staff of its policy on political insignia.

"Public-facing staff should remain neutral to ensure that passengers from all backgrounds feel respected."

Antisemitism in the UK has soared since the October 7 attacks took place in 2023, including a recent string of arson attacks against Jewish or Israeli-associated sites in the capital, including synagogues.

The Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 3,700 cases of anti-Jewish hate across the country over the course of last year, jumping four per cent from 2024.

But the records are yet to touch the figure recorded in 2023, when 4,298 cases of antisemitism were logged.

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