H-1B Fears Prompt Flyers to Get Off Plane Just Before Takeoff
Donald Trump signs an executive order authorizing the Trump Gold Card at the White House in Washington, DC, on Sept. 19.
Photographer: Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg
Shortly before an Emirates flight was set to depart from San Francisco to Dubai on Sept. 19, passengers in the cabin began hearing about US President Donald Trump’s decision to slap a $100,000 application fee on the H-1B visa.
Bewilderment among the travelers quickly turned to chaos and commotion, according to video footage from inside the cabin shared on social media. Passengers got up and paced the aisles, checking their phones, and asked flight attendants to let them off the Airbus A380 jumbo jet just as Flight EK226 was due to leave for its 15-hour flight to Dubai International Airport.