AN AER Lingus air hostess reportedly instigated the argument that saw Azealia Banks remove herself from a flight traveling from Gatwick to Dublin.
The 27-year-old – who has developed a reputation for feuding with other celebrities – branded Irish women “ugly” in an emotional tirade subsequently shared on Instagram Stories.
But now a fellow passenger has stepped forward to defend Banks, claiming that the stewardess involved in the incident was confrontational from the off.
Speaking to MailOnline the passenger, who was sat in the row directly behind Banks revealed how the problems started when the American performer tried to get something from her bag, standing in the aisle and preventing other passengers from boarding in the process.
“Then she turned to the hostess and said, ‘Are you staring at me…’? Why are you staring at me? I didn’t fill out an Air Lingus form to be stared at.’”
“The hostess was being quite confrontational. She said to her, ‘I need to know if you are going to cause more trouble on this flight? If someone’s rude to a stewardess, it is something we have to ask. It’s protocol.’”
“Azealia said something to her friend about it being a power play. She said, ‘I am on this flight and I am famous.’”
“The hostess said, ‘I don’t care if you’re famous.’”
At that point, the passenger claims Banks began contemplating leaving the flight, allegedly telling her friend and fellow passenger “‘I don’t want them to spit in my coffee.’”
She eventually decided to remove herself from the flight, resulting in a delay of well over an hour for those travelling to Dublin while her bags were unloaded.
Speaking anonymously, the source branded staff on the flight “a bit aggressive and confrontational” in their handling of the situation.
“They were asking Azealia if she was going to be trouble before we had even taken off, which only escalated the situation.”
(Picture: RollingNews.ie)After departing the flight, Banks took to social media to lambast the behaviour of the Aer Lingus staff as part of a lengthy and expletive-laden rant recorded on Instagram stories.
"Every time I come to the UK, they always make some s**t with these airline people," Banks said in the video post.
"They are always starting s**t with me. I had my bags deep in the plane and the lady was asking me some questions.
"I was trying to find my passport as I didn't have the answers and she was staring at me. I said. 'Don't stare at me'".
The rapper continued: "She goes to the Captain of the plane and lies that I said, 'Don't stare at me or I'll sort you out'. I'm from NYC, I don't use that slang.
"They crowded round me like I'm some sort of animal saying, 'we're going to have a problem'.
"I got off the plane. I've worked too hard in my life to be cornered by some ugly Irish b***h. They are ugly Irish women here.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Aer Lingus said: “Aer Lingus can confirm that two guests scheduled to fly on 10:55am flight from London Gatwick to Dublin (EI233) this morning disembarked themselves prior to departure.
"The guests in question got off the plane safely of their own accord, while all other guests remained on board. As they had luggage in the hold, the flight was delayed while that luggage was sourced.
"The flight departed Gatwick at 12:07 and landed in Dublin at 13:22. Aer Lingus has a strict no-tolerance policy towards disruptive guest behaviour. The safety and security of our guests and crew remains our first priority."
