An American veteran claimed she was left “humiliated” after being kicked off a flight from American airline Delta. A Delta flight attendant allegedly decided to boot the passenger out of the plane over a T-shirt bringing awareness to veterans struggling with self-harm ideation.
Catherine Banks was set out to fly out of San Francisco International Airport, USA, on Wednesday (October 16), NBC Bay Area reported on Friday (October 18).
Highlights
- Veteran allegedly removed from Delta flight over 'threatening' T-shirt.
- T-shirt aimed to raise awareness on veteran suicide prevention.
- The veteran had to change her shirt to re-board the flight.
However, a flight attendant told Catherine that the shirt she wore was threatening. The shirt reportedly read: "Do not give in to the war within. End veteran suicide."
Her shirt is sold by the Til Valhalla Project, which honors soldiers by raising funds for families to receive memorial plaques after their loved ones die and to help pay for therapy for struggling veterans.
An American veteran claimed she was left “humiliated” after being kicked off a flight from American airline Delta
Image credits: Aerojet/Unsplash
Image credits: NBC Bay Area
She told NBC: "A male flight attendant was saying, 'Ma'am, ma'am.' I looked around, like, 'Who was he talking to?' And it was me. He said, 'You need to get off the plane,' and I was like, 'What did I do?'"
Upon deboarding the plane and reaching the jet bridge, the flight attendant painted a clearer picture to Catherine.
She recalled: "He said 'that shirt you're wearing is threatening.' I said, 'Are you kidding me? I'm a Marine Corps vet.'"
A Delta flight attendant allegedly decided to boot the passenger out of the plane
Image credits: NBC Bay Area
“‘I'm going to see my Marine sister. I've been in the Marine Corps for 22 years and worked for the Air Force for 15 years.’
“‘I'm going to visit her.' He said, 'I don't care about your service, and I don't care about her service. The only way you're going to get back on the plane is if you take it off right now.'"
Catherine reportedly said she wasn't wearing a bra and had to turn around so the flight attendant couldn't see the front of her as she put on a sweatshirt.
Image credits: TIL Valhalla Project
The veteran was subsequently allowed to board the plane again. However, she went on to lose access to the seats with extra legroom, which she had paid extra for.
Catherine was forced to sit in the back of the engine. And, to make matters worse, the flight was delayed. She consequently missed her connecting flight.
The disappointed traveler later told NBC that Delta had reached out to her in an effort to make it right.
The passenger was allegedly kicked out over a T-shirt bringing awareness to veterans struggling with self-harm ideation
Image credits: NBC Bay Area
She further reportedly said humiliation was the only way to describe how she felt, telling NBC: "I feel like they just took my soul away.
“I'm not a bad person, and that T-shirt, I should be allowed to support myself and veterans.”
The airline has since told SFGATE: “Delta is seeking to make contact with the customer directly to hear more so we can begin to look into what occurred.”
Image credits: NBC Bay Area
This isn't the first time Delta has taken someone off a flight due to their attire. The company’s website outlines the fact that the airline reserves the right to remove passengers from a plane "when the passenger's conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers."
In March, Lisa Archbold held a news conference with her attorney, Gloria Allred, and explained how on a Delta flight to San Francisco, she was asked to deplane due to her choice of clothing, NBC reported at the time.
Lisa reportedly said she believed the airline had a problem with her not wearing a bra under her shirt and was told, "Women must cover up." Delta went on to issue an apology.
"Nothing threatening about her shirt," a reader commented
