A Marine Corps veteran alleges she was booted from a Delta flight last week for wearing a shirt calling for an end to veteran suicide, according to multiple media reports.
Catherine Banks told NBC Bay Area that the incident occurred Wednesday as she wore a shirt that read, “Do not give in to the war within. End veteran suicide.”
Banks told NBC that she was attempting to fly out of San Francisco International Airport.
“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?’” Banks said, according to NBC.
Banks alleged she was told she was booted from the flight after she departed the plane and was on the jet bridge.
“He said that shirt you’re wearing is threatening,” Banks said, according to NBC. “I said, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m a Marine Corps vet. 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.’”
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Banks told NBC that Delta eventually let her get back on her flight, but that she had to sit in the back and missed a connection because of the delay.
Delta did not immediately respond to a Marine Corps Times request for comment, but the airline told SFGATE last week that it was “seeking to make contact with the customer directly to hear more so we can begin to look into what occurred.”
NBC also reported that Banks said Delta had gotten in touch with her.
The airline’s website states that flight crews may remove passengers when their “conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.”
Troops, veterans and family members experiencing suicidal thoughts can call or text the 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net.
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