A family from Bahia was removed from an Air France flight from Paris to Salvador after a dispute over a broken seat in business class. The incident took place on January 14, 2026, at Charles de Gaulle Airport, resulting in police intervention. They claim a R$100,000 loss and plan to sue the airline.
On January 14, 2026, a family from Bahia encountered an incident on an Air France flight operated by a Boeing 777-200ER from Paris to Salvador. They had paid €1,600 for an upgrade to business class, which has 28 seats. At seat 7L, one passenger found it broken and occupied by another person, being offered only a spot in premium economy, with less space (58 cm less between seats) and no full recline to a bed.
The family questioned the crew, sparking a heated discussion. The captain intervened, issuing an ultimatum for them to decide whether to accept the downgrade or not. With the standoff, police were called and removed the group from the flight on Wednesday morning, just before takeoff from Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Without assistance from Air France, the family bought new tickets on another airline and boarded only the next day, Thursday. They report a R$100,000 loss and told the BNews portal they will sue the airline. Aeroin contacted Air France for clarification but is still awaiting a response.
A downgrade happens due to overbooking, operational issues, or damaged seats, as in this case. According to passenger rights, they could accept the downgrade and seek judicial reparation later, or refuse and receive accommodation, meals, and transport on the next flight. The situation underscores overbooking concerns and consumer protection in aviation.
