A British-born Nigeria was removed from an easyJet flight by armed police after another passenger spotted a message on his phone referring to 'prayer' and 'ISI' and feared he might be a terrorist.
Laolu Opebiyi, a devout Christian, was using WhatsApp to arrange a conference call prayer session with friends, as his flight was waiting to take off at Luton airport.
But before the Amsterdam bound flight could leave, he was pulled off the plane by two firearms officers after a fellow flyer alerted cabin crew.
The 40-year-old Londoner was ordered off the flight at Luton Airport and asked if he was converting to Islam as the 6.45am flight to Amsterdam took off without him.
A fellow passenger had been spying on his phone from over his shoulder and may have misread the title of the group 'Isi men' as 'Isis men', he believes.
Airport
Mr Opebiyi had to get a flight four hours later, but now he fears he is on a terror watchlist Alamy
His accuser then asked him: "What do you mean by 'prayer?' before walking towards the cockpit and asking to get off.
Within a few minutes six further passengers also left the plane.
Two armed cops then arrived and told Mr Opebiyi to pick up his belongings and get off the Amsterdam-bound flight.
They then repeatedly questioned him about his faith, which church he attended in London and whether he was considering converting to Islam.
He told the Guardian: "'Even if I was a Muslim, it was pretty unfair the way I was treated. I don't think anyone, irrespective of their religion should be treated in such a way.
"If we keep on giving into this kind of bigotry and irrational fear, I dare say that the terrorists will have achieved their aim.'
Mr Opebiyi is a member of a WhatsApp prayer group called 'Isi men', which one air passenger most likely misread as ISIS.
'Isi' is a shortened version of the Bible proverb: 'Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another'.
It is used by Christians to describe how prayer and discussing the Bible with fellow Christians can improve a person.
When this was explained to police he was released but his ordeal wasn't over as seven passengers STILL refused to travel with him.
One reportedly said: "If he is on the next flight, I am not getting on the flight."
He eventually travelled to Amsterdam on a flight four hours later.
Luton Airport
Armed police patrolling Luton Airport escorted Mr Opebiyi off the plane Alamy
Mr Opebiyi now fears he is on a terror watchlist because he was then stopped by officials as he travelled back from Amsterdam the following day.
His passport also failed to work at the electronic departure gates.
He said: "Someone felt I was a terrorist because they saw the word 'prayer' on my phone and now I stand in uncertainty about my freedom of movement in and out of the UK."
Bedforshire Police, who patrol the airport, have defended their officers' handling of the case.
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