A recent incident involving a passenger being ejected from a Delta Airlines flight has sparked controversy.
The passenger was reportedly removed from the plane due to his attire, a black t-shirt featuring an image of former President Donald Trump making an obscene gesture, accompanied by a phrase referencing a popular internet video.
As reported by The New York Post, the incident occurred at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport on a Saturday morning. The passenger's shirt displayed an image of Trump, adorned in sunglasses bearing the colors of the American flag, extending two middle fingers. The shirt's text, "Hawk tuah spit on that thang," is a nod to a viral, adult-themed internet video.
The passenger, while being escorted off the plane, can be heard in a video saying, "I'm getting kicked off because of my shirt." He then reads the name tag of the female flight attendant accompanying him and adds, "And this is her reporting stupid-ass Wendy."
According to a Reddit user, SKBeachGirl, the passenger was initially informed while waiting to board that his shirt had elicited a complaint. He was told he would need to change his shirt or face removal from the flight. In response, the passenger turned his shirt inside-out, and the flight proceeded to board. However, just before takeoff, a Delta employee entered the plane and escorted the passenger off the flight, as he had reverted his shirt back to its original display.
Delta Airlines' Contract of Carriage allows the airline to remove passengers from its flights at its discretion. This can be done for reasons related to the comfort or safety of other passengers or Delta employees, or to prevent damage to Delta property or that of its passengers or employees. The contract also states that a passenger can be removed if their "conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers."
Delta Airlines has yet to comment on the incident.
This is not the first time Delta Airlines has faced controversy over its dress code enforcement. Earlier this year, Lisa Archbold, a 38-year-old DJ, claimed she was nearly removed from a Delta flight for not wearing a bra. Archbold, who was traveling from Salt Lake City to San Francisco, was wearing baggy jeans and a loose white T-shirt. Despite her breasts not being visible, a gate agent allegedly told her that her attire was "revealing" and "offensive," violating the airline's policy.
These incidents raise questions about the extent to which airlines should regulate passengers' attire and the potential infringement on individual freedoms. They also highlight the need for clear and consistent enforcement of dress code policies to avoid unnecessary confrontations and disruptions.
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