A Marine Corps veteran was removed from a Delta Air Lines flight before being ordered to change after flight attendants deemed the passenger's shirt “threatening” after drawing attention to a soldier's suicide bombing.
Katherine Banks, a 22-year Marine Corps veteran, boarded a Delta flight arriving at San Francisco International Airport to visit family on Oct. 16, wearing dark gray clothing and wearing an extra charge on her legs. I sat on a wide seat.
“Don't give in to the war within. End veteran suicide,” Banks' shirt read.
A male flight attendant approached Banks and tried to get her attention, but she was confused.
“'Ma'am, ma'am.' I looked around, 'Who was he talking to?' And it was me. He said, “I need to get off the plane,'' and I said, “What did I do? ’” Banks said. he told KNTV.
Banks complied and was escorted from the plane to the jet bridge, where he finally learned why he had been taken off.
“He said that shirt you're wearing is a threat,” she said. “I said, 'Are you kidding me?'
Stunned, Banks questioned the Delta employee before explaining that he was a military veteran.
“I'm a Marine Corps veteran. I'm going to visit my sister who is a Marine. I served 22 years in the Marines and 15 years in the Air Force. I'm going to visit her.”
Banks' military background did not phase the flight attendant who gave her an ultimatum to return to the plane.
“I'm not interested in your services, and I'm not interested in hers. The only way to get back on the plane is to leave the plane now,” Banks recalled.
Banks, who was wearing no bra under her shirt, told the flight attendant to turn around and took off her shirt, which appeared to be polarizing, to put on a sweatshirt.
The shirt is being sold by the Till Valhalla Project as part of its 22 a day collection, which raises awareness for an estimated 22 veterans. commit suicide every day.
According to the USO, the number of active-duty military suicides is at an all-time high since records began on 9/11.
Since 9/11, more than 30,000 active duty military personnel and veterans have died by suicide, compared to 7,057 military personnel who died in combat over the same 20 years. Research published in 2021.
Banks said her shirt was a symbol of her work helping fellow veterans, but she felt humiliated by having it removed.
“I feel like they took my soul. That T-shirt should be allowed to support myself and veterans because I'm not a bad person,” she said .
Ms. Banks was taken to the back of the plane instead of the seat she had paid for, which had already been assigned to another passenger.
Delta says it can refuse to carry passengers if their “behavior, attire, hygiene, odor, etc. pose an unreasonable risk of discomfort or inconvenience to other passengers.”
The Post has contacted Delta Air Lines.
In August, another Delta Air Lines passenger was removed from a plane for wearing an inappropriate shirt.
The unidentified man was wearing a black T-shirt that featured a portrait of former President Donald Trump with both middle fingers up and the words “Hawk Tua Spit on His Tongue.” , a reference to the viral “Hawk Tua” girl video was drawn.
Active military, veterans, and family members in need of help can call and chat with the Military Crisis Line/Veterans Crisis Line at 988. veteranscrisisline.netor text 838255.
