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A Muslim woman says she was attacked on September 11 while on a Spirit Airlines flight to Detroit.
According to WXYZ, Aicha Toure says she was getting off the plane at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport when an older woman accidentally dropped her luggage and hit another passenger. The passenger that was hit became angry and verbally abusive towards the older woman, so Toure stepped in to defend her.
"I said, 'Excuse me, I don't think she did that on purpose. I think it was an accident. This lady could be your mom. I think you should be a little respectful.' From there, she looked at me and she was like, 'You (expletive) Muslim terrorist, nobody's talking to you. Mind your business,'" Toure told WXYZ.
She noted that the verbal attack turned physical until a flight attendant stepped in and the passenger was arrested.
Toure's attorney, Dawud Walid, said that if the passenger apologized for the altercation, Toure would have asked police to release her, but because she was unapologetic, Toure is now pressing assault and battery charges.
"We believe that with besides the issue of assault, there needs to be an additional charge placed against this lady and that is that she should be charged with violating the Michigan Ethnic Intimidation Act because this woman clearly said something in terms of the victim's religion," Walid said.
Spirit Airlines also released a statement about the incident.
"A passenger on one of our flights arriving in Detroit last night chose to use appalling language toward one of our guests. That kind of language has no place on our planes-or anywhere else-and she is no longer welcome on any of our flights."
WXYZ reported that the suspect is still in custody.