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Marine Corps Vet Left “Humiliated” After She’s Removed From Delta Flight Over “Threatening” Shirt
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, aflight 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.
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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 isthreatening.’ 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
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What do you think ?
BrownEyedPanda 1 year ago
Delta Airlines. Why am I not surprised? Almost every story I've read about an airline employee having an issue with a passenger's attire (read: t-shirt or hat with "triggering" caption) has been with Delta. Do they WANT to stay in business? Note to self: don't fly Delta.
Momma Jess 1 year ago
Stay with me here: I don't care about her service or her sister's service either. I don't, not one bit. It's just another career path someone chose. Do I care that a fellow human was unnecessarily harassed and mistreated? Absolutely. Just because I don't give someone accolades for their career choice doesn't mean they shouldn't be treated with basic respect and allowed their dignity. It's a damn t-shirt, there's nothing threatening about suicide awareness and prevention.
Krosse Starwind 1 year ago
Then you don't care about the freedoms you enjoy. Go renounce your citizenship if you don't like them so much.
Load More Replies...
FreeTheUnicorn 1 year ago
Delta is notorious for this kind of thing. I have a friend who was flying standby due to bereavement, so she was at the airport waiting for a seat to be available and Delta told her she had to pull herself together, they weren't going to find her a seat if she was crying. She wasn't making a scene, just sitting, texting and crying occasionally because a sibling had just died. She's the most introverted person I know and would never cause a scene, but they passed over her for four hours because she was crying in a corner. Delta also records the highest rate of pet death of any major airline, and is at the top of US domestic airlines for compression stalls.
nm (he/him) 1 year ago (edited)
A stewardess of an airline considered as offensive or improper or threatening the word "su-i-ci-de". So what? The same happens here in BP for less.
General Anaesthesia 1 year ago
There is not one word in the English language that won't "trigger" or offend at least one person. Clothing should be a plain color without decals, logos, mottos etc. to avoid hurting someone's, anyone's feelings.
Load More Replies...
Corvus 1 year ago
I've always found it weird how people thank vets for their service all the time, but otherwise treat them like shitt, and abandon them to poverty, homelessness and the ravages of PTSD.
General Anaesthesia 1 year ago
"Thank you for your service, you knew what you signed up for, thoughts and prayers, loser, now drop [unalived]".
Load More Replies...
Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
I hope sales of that shirt go through the roof, a charity benefits from it and awareness of s.u.i.c.i.d.e. and PTSD is heightened. Silence kills.
BrownEyedPanda 1 year ago
Delta Airlines. Why am I not surprised? Almost every story I've read about an airline employee having an issue with a passenger's attire (read: t-shirt or hat with "triggering" caption) has been with Delta. Do they WANT to stay in business? Note to self: don't fly Delta.
Momma Jess 1 year ago
Stay with me here: I don't care about her service or her sister's service either. I don't, not one bit. It's just another career path someone chose. Do I care that a fellow human was unnecessarily harassed and mistreated? Absolutely. Just because I don't give someone accolades for their career choice doesn't mean they shouldn't be treated with basic respect and allowed their dignity. It's a damn t-shirt, there's nothing threatening about suicide awareness and prevention.
Krosse Starwind 1 year ago
Then you don't care about the freedoms you enjoy. Go renounce your citizenship if you don't like them so much.
Load More Replies... FreeTheUnicorn 1 year ago
Delta is notorious for this kind of thing. I have a friend who was flying standby due to bereavement, so she was at the airport waiting for a seat to be available and Delta told her she had to pull herself together, they weren't going to find her a seat if she was crying. She wasn't making a scene, just sitting, texting and crying occasionally because a sibling had just died. She's the most introverted person I know and would never cause a scene, but they passed over her for four hours because she was crying in a corner. Delta also records the highest rate of pet death of any major airline, and is at the top of US domestic airlines for compression stalls.
nm (he/him) 1 year ago (edited)
A stewardess of an airline considered as offensive or improper or threatening the word "su-i-ci-de". So what? The same happens here in BP for less.
General Anaesthesia 1 year ago
There is not one word in the English language that won't "trigger" or offend at least one person. Clothing should be a plain color without decals, logos, mottos etc. to avoid hurting someone's, anyone's feelings.
Load More Replies... Corvus 1 year ago
I've always found it weird how people thank vets for their service all the time, but otherwise treat them like shitt, and abandon them to poverty, homelessness and the ravages of PTSD.
General Anaesthesia 1 year ago
"Thank you for your service, you knew what you signed up for, thoughts and prayers, loser, now drop [unalived]".
Load More Replies... Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
I hope sales of that shirt go through the roof, a charity benefits from it and awareness of s.u.i.c.i.d.e. and PTSD is heightened. Silence kills.
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