Emirates explains why Di Asa winner was kicked off Dubai flight

Emirates has explained why the 2019 Di Asa winner could not board one of its Dubai-bound flights from Accra.

The management at Emirates has revealed that for safety reasons the organisers of Di Asa should have purchased extra seats for Precious Mensah.

According to Emirates, they require that all passengers are safely and comfortably seated with their seatbelt fastened.

“We respect our customers' privacy and cannot discuss specific customer details or cases,” the statement released Wednesday said.

The 2019 winner of Accra-based Atinka TV’s plus size women reality show ‘Di Asa’ was disallowed from boarding an Emirates flight to Dubai because of her size.

Precious Mensah, popularly known as PM, was supposed to travel to the UAE as part of her prize with the two runners-up.

Emirates in their statement added that it is an industry practice for passengers who cannot be accommodated in a single seat due to their size to only purchase extra seats “should a seat be available”.

This, the statement explained is for the passenger’s own safety and comfort.

Meanwhile, the organisers said PM could not fit into two seats even when they purchased it, hence they tried to get another seat but were told none was available.

They are hoping to sort out the issue by Friday, November 22.

Read the full statement below:

“Emirates is committed to passenger safety.”

Accra - 20th November 2019: An Emirates spokesperson - "We respect our customers' privacy and cannot discuss specific customer details or cases. Emirates places the highest standards on in-flight safety and as part of this, it is a requirement that all passengers are safely and comfortably seated with their seatbelt fastened. Industry practise for passengers who cannot be accommodated in a single seat due to their size is for them to purchase an extra seat for their own safety and comfort, should a seat be available.”