Passenger kicked off Delta flight after 'refusing to swap seats for couple'

Passenger kicked off Delta flight after 'refusing to swap seats for couple' Santiago Daza, from Colombia, claims he was forced to get off a Delta flight from Bogota to Atlanta after refusing to change seats for a couple A passenger was kicked off a Delta flight after refusing to change seats for a couple. Santiago Daza, from Colombia, alleges he was offered a smaller, less comfortable seat after a flight attendant asked him to move on the flight from Bogotá to Atlanta, US, so that a couple could sit together on September 9. He agreed to the swap but changed his mind when he saw the alternative seat on offer, and then used his Meta smart glasses to film the confrontation - wanting evidence of what he felt was unfair treatment. “At first I agreed because I wanted to help, but when I saw the alternative seat, I realised it was less comfortable and had less space, so I decided to remain in my assigned seat," he said. “I never actually changed seats.” A flight attendant then approached him and asked for his name. “From my perspective, his attitude felt quite hostile from the beginning,” said Santiago. He claims the crew member told him to stop recording before heading towards the cockpit. Another Delta staff member later asked Santiago to explain his side of the story before telling him to leave the plane. He asked why he was being removed but was given no clear reason, only being told the crew member had spoken to the captain and the decision had been made. The confrontation unfolded before take-off at El Dorado International Airport, with footage capturing parts of the exchange with airline staff. Santiago insists he stayed calm throughout and began filming because he wanted a record of what was happening. After being removed, he said Delta rebooked him on another flight, but he lost his original itinerary and faced additional expenses. He later lodged a complaint with the airline, but claims its response failed to give him a straight answer and that he was told Delta could not find a crew report about the incident. The airline also offered him a US$150 (£113) travel credit, but he says that missed the point. “I was not simply looking for compensation or a credit – I wanted to understand why I had been removed from the flight in the first place,” he said. “If the situation was serious enough to remove me from the aircraft, what exactly did I do to justify that decision, and where was it documented?” The footage has divided opinion, with some viewers backing Santiago and others saying he should have swapped seats to let the couple sit together. Delta said: “The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and federal regulations require customers to follow all instructions given by crew members. We always support our employees in their efforts to maintain a safe and respectful environment for everyone on board.” The airline has not provided further details about why Santiago was removed from the flight, but said the customer had been rebooked on a later service. The Mirror has contacted Delta for comment.