A doctor from Texas has received an apology from American Airlines, after flight attendants allegedly threatened to kick her and her 8-year-old son off a plane because they deemed her outfit inappropriate.
Dr. Latisha “Tisha” Rowe, who specializes in family medicine in Houston, went viral on Twitter on June 30 after sharing her experience on a flight from Jamaica to Miami.
Rowe claimed that a flight attendant approached her after boarding the aircraft and asked her to deplane. Once outside, she was met by another another attendant who inquired if she had a jacket before explaining that the ensemble she was wearing, a printed strapless romper, was deemed "too distracting" by members of the flight crew.
Rowe alleged she was then told she needed to cover up. If she was not able to find acceptable attire, she and her son would not be allowed to fly.
After the humiliating incident, she took to Twitter to share front and side photos of the outfit she was wearing when the incident occurred taken after landing in the airport bathroom.
American Airlines has a “contract of carriage” that it requires passengers to agree upon the purchase of tickets. That contract mentions attire, stating, “Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.” It does not not provide examples or descriptions of clothing that would fall outside those rules.
Regardless, Rowe said on Twitter that she felt her outfit “covered EVERYTHING” and was perfectly acceptable. And while she says she defended her outfit to flight attendants, she told Insider.com she stopped after she saw that her son was fighting back tears, embarrassed.
To solve the problem, Rowe asked for a blanket that she then tied around her waist. Eventually ,after repeatedly asking to go back on the plane, she claims crew members allowed her to reboard as long as she remained covered for her entire flight.
In a statement to PEOPLE, American Airlines spokeswoman Shannon Gilson said the company was remorseful and doing what they could to make it up to her.
“We were concerned about Dr. Rowe’s comments, and reached out to her and our team at the Kingston airport to gather more information about what occurred,” Gilson said. “We apologize to Dr. Rowe and her son for their experience, and have fully refunded their travel.”
“We are proud to serve customers of all backgrounds and are committed to providing a positive, safe travel experience for everyone who flies with us,” Gilson added.
Do you think her outfit is inappropriate?