A number of KLM ground handling staff members are under investigation after a video surfaced on July 8, 2021, revealing the ground staff chanting racial slurs at a departing Royal Air Maroc aircraft.
The incident took place at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in the Netherlands. In the video, a man is heard chanting words in Dutch directed at a departing Royal Air Maroc aircraft: “Yes, yes, there goes another full box of Moroccans back to Morocco. A one-way ticket for everyone! Get out, get out!” Another man, wearing KLM work clothes, is seen cheering the chant.
@KLM medewerkers op @Schiphol juichen dat kist met marokkanen oprotten naar marokko. “Lekker enkeltje oprotten”. Zie video! Wagelijk! #racisme #haat ben benieuwd naar het excuus voor dezr haat. pic.twitter.com/dj7Qi4OWc9
— Dr. Charifa Zemouri (@DrZemouri) July 7, 2021
KLM released a statement on July 8, 2021, disapproving the behavior of the personnel recorded in the video and stating that further action will be taken regarding the matter.
“We were shocked by the contents of a video on social media, showing personnel in a KLM vest and work gear cheering at the sight of an aircraft taking off to Morocco,” KLM wrote in a statement. “The people in the video can be heard making unacceptable comments.”
“Regrettably, we have had to conclude that at least one Ground Services employee was involved in this video,” wrote KLM. “This behaviour is totally unacceptable. It is contrary to the core values we uphold as a company and as a division. There is no place for this kind of behaviour, neither at KLM nor within the broader airport community. Appropriate action will therefore be taken.”