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A 21-year-old woman from South Florida was allegedly kicked off of a Spirits Airlines flight from New Orleans to Fort Lauderdale because of the fact that her cleavage was showing, Local 10 News reports.
The woman, who remained not to be named, told Local 10 News, “It’s not even about money. I was really embarrassed.”
Paul Berry, Spirit spokesman, said, "Nobody was taken off a plane because of cleavage. People are taken off of planes because of their behavior."
Berry continued, "The flight attendant made that decision, and as she was leaving, she said, 'By the way, you might want to cover up.' It was more of a personal statement to her."
According to a source obtained by the New York Daily News, Bob Kowaleski, a Spirit passenger, said that the flight attendants “embarrassed the young girl and she didn’t appear any more out of bounds than anyone else on flight.”
Kowaleski also said that she was treated like a “street walker.” He also affirmed that he “saw no potential problem with her.”
Cathy Supp, another Spirit passenger who claimed that she was present during the incident, wrote a lengthy and detailed post on Facebook to voice out her testimony.
She wrote:
“I'm flying to Fort Lauderdale by way of Huston today 8:30am - 5:00pm
“Because Spirit Airlines wrongfully ejected me from the plane after offering a tissue to a quietly sobbing young lady, who had been first accused of being drunk, then after trying to persuade her to leave on her own by threatening police intervention if she were to somehow get sick or become disruptive during the flight!
“After assuring all THREE flight attendants that although she & her companion had been finishing a beer before boarding, but was not drunk & would be fine, they left her alone for a few minutes, then came back and said her bosom was too exposed!
“Granted she was well endowed and wearing a lowcut top, but she was covered. They claimed they had had complaints.
“(There were no nuns or Muslims on board and no one could see her in the center seat unless they tried anyway)
“She tried to pull her top up further to cover more, each time another flight attendant came with the same issue, telling her in loud and rude tones that she'll have leave the plane if she can't get them covered.
“The gate agent came on board and very politely and quietly spoke with her, she asked for a blanket, the airlines no longer provide-so she took out a big coat put it on and completely covered up to the neck!
“Ok can we back away from the gate yet? Minutes go by, me & my seat mate converse about their rudeness and never having seen anyone have such a cleavage issue!
“The woman said, "That poor girl is so upset she's crying"
“I couldn't hear her, I peeked between the seat and there she was sobbing into her hands.
“I reached into my bag got a pack of tissues, turned to give it to her and said it's going to be ok just breath
“Immediately a flight attendant rushed to her pointing his finger and saying, "I told you if I got called to your seat again I'll toss you off"
“(She's crying) I say, "Who called you"
“He says "I'm talking to her not you" pointing
“I felt it important to convey that I had initiated contact w/this young lady, she had t been bothering me.
“He stated, "I am a FLIGHT ATTENDANT! I can toss you off this plane"
“Me: for handing her a tissue?
“I just need you to understand that I initiated contact. To which he huffed off, I figured that was the end of it…
“However, AFTER the crew member the other 2 seats went to immigrants who were traveling "together" (he told me all about after) Yeah ok-well I need to get to FLL still-I was removed for no good reason-I was not refusing to comply there was no safety violations ect.
“What does God have in store for me? I was protecting the meek.”
Spirit Airlines stood firm on their statement, insisting that the crew for that specific flight received complaints regarding the woman, who started crying by the end of the incident.
