South African TV Personality Shamiso Mosaka Removed from CemAir Flight for ‘Unruly’ Conduct
South African television personality Shamiso Mosaka was reportedly removed from a flight traveling from Durban to Johannesburg due to what officials described as her “unruly” behavior.
According to local airline CemAir, the flight experienced a delay of 90 minutes as a result of Mosaka’s refusal to comply with safety regulations. The airline stated that the pilot was compelled to halt the engines, which were already running, due to her actions.
Mosaka did not provide a response to the BBC’s request for comment, but she did document the encounter via Instagram Live. The video footage quickly circulated on social media platforms, with many individuals expressing support for Mosaka.
In the video, Mosaka can be seen being asked to disembark from the flight by police officers, although she adamantly refuses to do so until she receives assurance that another flight will be booked for her—an appeal that the airline crew rejected. She attempts to defend herself and enlist support from fellow passengers to validate her claim that she was not causing any disruption. Mosaka also suggests that the incident may have been racially motivated, alleging that the cabin crew failed to adequately explain her purported wrongdoing.
However, CemAir’s Chief Financial Officer, Laura van der Molen, refuted claims of racial profiling in an interview with local newspaper The Citizen. Van der Molen asserted that Mosaka had simply refused to comply with the airline’s regulations, necessitating her removal from the flight.
The incident unfolded at King Shaka Zulu International Airport on a Sunday, according to CemAir. The airline has since reported the matter to the South African police for further investigation and potential prosecution.
CemAir has stated its intent to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities in addressing the incident.
