Senators urge Delta CEO to re-evaluate ‘disgraceful’ treatment of Marine veteran temporarily cleared from flight

Two US senators sent a letter to Delta CEO Ed Bastian demanding that it “reconsider training” its employees following a “shameful” incident in which a Marine veteran was reportedly kicked off a plane for wearing a T-shirt raising awareness about military suicide.

Message from Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala. and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Cal., came after Catherine Banks told NBC Bay Area that she was preparing to visit her sister last Wednesday when she was stopped at San Francisco International Airport above a shirt that reads: “Don’t give in to the internal war. End veteran suicides.”

Banks told the station that a flight attendant told her the shirt was “threatening” and that “the only way to get back on the plane is to take it off right now.” Banks was eventually allowed back on board. According to NBC Bay Area, she boarded the plane after putting on a sweatshirt, but was told to sit in the back of the plane instead of the seat she had paid for.

“Raising awareness and ending stigma are integral to improving mental health and ending the suicide epidemic in our country. Your employee’s actions were contrary to these goals,” the senators wrote in their letter to Bastian, which was obtained by FOX Business.

Marine veteran temporarily kicked off Delta flight for wearing ‘threatening’ shirt: report

“We believe that your employee erred in applying Delta Airlines policies and acted in a manner that would be disturbing to any traveling public,” they continued. “Assuming you agree with these statements, we look forward to your airline publicly taking steps to justify your support for Veterans of America and combating suicide.

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“We urge you to take appropriate action to not only ensure that the passenger is adequately compensated for the distressing experience, but also to reconsider the training of your employees to ensure that no single passenger is treated in such a disgraceful manner,” they also said.

A Delta spokesperson told FOX Business on Friday that the company is preparing a response to the letter.

DELTA PLANNS TO RENOVATE THE INTERIOR OF ITS AIRCRAFT

Earlier this week, the airline told Marine Corps Times that “we appreciate (Banks’) patience as we continue to work to understand what occurred during this event” and “most importantly, we are grateful for her service to our country.”

On its website, Delta says it may “refuse transportation or remove passengers from its aircraft” if a passenger’s “conduct, dress, hygiene or odor create an undue risk of offending or annoying other passengers.”

Heart	Security	Last	Change	Change %
DISTANCE	DELTA AIR LINES INC.	54.77	+0.12	+0.22%

“In this situation, the passenger was reportedly wearing a T-shirt that read, “Don’t give in to the internal war.” End Veteran Suicide” placed on the front. It defies sound logic and good faith to assert that these 11 words “would create an undue risk of offending or annoying” other passengers,” Senator Britt and Senator Graham wrote in their letter. to Bastian.

“As alleged details of this incident have been reported in international news reports, we are concerned and embarrassed by the disgraceful manner in which the passenger was treated,” they added.

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“Given that more than 30,000 active-duty U.S. service members and veterans who have served in the military since 9/11 have died by suicide, we appreciate the willingness of anyone who is trying to draw attention to this issue – especially veterans like your passenger in this case,” it was also written in the letter.