Blogger removed from US flight after verbal altercation

Founder of MuslimGirl.com Amani Al Khatahtbeh claims she was removed after male passenger said he was 'uncomfortable' with her on the flight

Amani/Instagram

A Muslim-American woman who was removed from an American Airlines flight at New Jersey’s Newark Airport on Saturday said she was unfairly targeted in the incident.

Amani Al Khatahtbeh, founder of MuslimGirl.com – a website that aims to correct misconceptions about Muslim women – said the incident took place after an argument with a male passenger in the Transportation Security Administration screening.

Ms Khatahtbeh said the man behind her in the queue placed his items ahead of hers during the screening process. When she challenged him, he told her he was "pre check" and "first class",” Ms Khatahtbeh wrote on Twitter before boarding the plane.

In a statement to The National, American Airlines said that PreCheck passengers are deemed "low risk" and pass through an expedited screening process.

“Ms Al Khatahtbeh believed the other passenger, who is enrolled in PreCheck, was getting favourable treatment because he was allowed to proceed through security while she was removing her shoes,” the airline said.

The verbal dispute between both passengers continued all the way on to the plane. The man then made a complaint against Ms Khatahtbeh which led to an American Airlines official removing her from the flight.

American Airlines said it is “actively investigating” the incident.

Ms Khatahtbeh made another Twitter post after her detainment, which indicates that she may no longer be in custody.